World News | US warship sails in Taiwan Strait after China drills

TAIPEI, April 17 (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship passed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since China conducted a massive siege exercise around self-governing Taiwan.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet said Sunday’s transit of the aircraft carrier USS Milius was routine.

Read also | South Korea, the United States, and Japan hold missile defense exercises in the East Sea under the threat of North Korea.

The cruisers “passed through the corridors of the strait beyond the territorial waters of any coastal state,” the statement said.

China has conducted multiple military exercises in the Taiwan Strait in retaliation for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a visit to the United States earlier this month.

Read also | Turkey Earthquake: A magnitude 4.0 quake hits Afsin, no casualties reported.

China said on Wednesday that naval and air exercises that simulated encircling Taiwan were aimed at sending a “serious warning” to pro-independence politicians and their foreign backers on the self-governing island.

China also sanctioned organizations associated with Tsai’s visit to the United States, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where she met with McCarthy and other members of Congress.

On Sunday, China launched a rocket carrying a satellite, throwing debris into the sea north of the capital, Taipei. While the satellite launch had no apparent military purpose, it disrupted travel and delayed flights. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)