The guided-missile frigate Chaozhou (Hull 595) attached to a frigate flotilla with the navy under the PLA Eastern Theater Command steams in waters of the East China Sea during a maritime realistic training exercise from May 8 to 11, 2020.Photo:China Military

 

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces and tracked and monitored the USS Barry destroyer for the entire course when the US warship sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday, the command announced on Thursday.

In recent days, the US has been frequently sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, seriously damaging peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.

The US warship's Taiwan Straits transit came after foreign media reported on Tuesday and Wednesday that the US is moving forward with the latest batch of arms sales to the island of Taiwan, which experts said feature weapons of attack rather than being defensive in nature. 

"We sternly urge the US to stop making trouble-stirring statements and moves. The command forces are always on high alert in resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits," Zhang said.

Global Times