Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Monday that two US naval vessels crossed the Taiwan Strait in a move that would anger Beijing as tensions between China and the United States escalated.
The ministry said in a statement that it was in full control of the situation during the cross-strait crossing of the two vessels. The US Navy carried out a similar mission in July.
Reuters reported two days ago that the United States was considering a new operation to send warships across the Taiwan Strait on a mission to ensure freedom of passage through this strategic waterway.
China, a self-governing Taiwan, is a breakaway province and is exerting pressure to subjugate the island to its sovereignty, while opposition movements in Beijing seek secession.
Thousands of supporters of independence in Taipei, capital of Taiwan, took part Saturday in a protest against Beijing's "bullying" and called for a referendum on the island's official declaration of independence from China.
A group formed six months ago, called the Formosa Coalition, organized the demonstration, one of the biggest demonstrations in Taiwan this year.
The protesters gathered near the headquarters of Democratic Progressive Party, which belongs to President Tsai Ing-wen.
Relations between Taiwan and China have deteriorated since Tsai took office in 2016. China suspects it is pushing for official independence, a red line for Beijing.
China considers Taiwan a rogue province and has never ruled out the use of force to subjugate the Democratic-ruled island to its control.
Beijing this year stepped up military and diplomatic pressure, carried out air and naval exercises around the island and convinced three of the few governments that still support Taiwan to stop this support.
