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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Taiwan: Two US warships sail through strait | Taiwan: Two US warships sail through strait |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| USS Chancellorsville is part of the operation | USS Chancellorsville is part of the operation |
| Two US warships are passing through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy has announced. | Two US warships are passing through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy has announced. |
| It is the first such operation to take place since tensions between Taiwan and China increased following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month. | It is the first such operation to take place since tensions between Taiwan and China increased following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month. |
| The US and other Western navies have routinely sailed through the strait in recent years. | The US and other Western navies have routinely sailed through the strait in recent years. |
| China reacted to Ms Pelosi's visit by holding military drills in the area. | |
| On Sunday, Taiwan's defence ministry says it detected 23 Chinese aircraft and eight Chinese ships operating around Taiwan. | |
| Among the detected aircraft, seven crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait - an unofficial barrier between Taiwan and China. | |
| Washington says its two guided-missile cruisers - the USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville - are demonstrating freedom of navigation through international waters. | |
| Beijing views such actions as provocative and maintains that the island of Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory. | Beijing views such actions as provocative and maintains that the island of Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory. |
| On Sunday, its military said it was monitoring the two vessels' progress, maintaining a high alert, and was ready to defeat any provocation, Reuters news agency reports. | On Sunday, its military said it was monitoring the two vessels' progress, maintaining a high alert, and was ready to defeat any provocation, Reuters news agency reports. |
| China and Taiwan: A really simple guide | China and Taiwan: A really simple guide |
| What's behind China-Taiwan tensions? | What's behind China-Taiwan tensions? |
| The US Navy said in a statement that the transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the "United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific". | The US Navy said in a statement that the transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the "United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific". |
| "These ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state," the statement added. | "These ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state," the statement added. |
| Taiwan's defence ministry said the ships were sailing in a southerly direction and that its forces were observing, but that "the situation was as normal". | Taiwan's defence ministry said the ships were sailing in a southerly direction and that its forces were observing, but that "the situation was as normal". |
| Where Taiwan crisis leaves Biden's China policy | Where Taiwan crisis leaves Biden's China policy |
| Nancy Pelosi's long history of opposing Beijing | Nancy Pelosi's long history of opposing Beijing |
| Taiwan is self-ruled, but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually unite, with force if necessary. | Taiwan is self-ruled, but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually unite, with force if necessary. |
| Taiwan has become yet another flashpoint between Washington and Beijing in recent years, with the US walking a diplomatic tightrope on the issue. | Taiwan has become yet another flashpoint between Washington and Beijing in recent years, with the US walking a diplomatic tightrope on the issue. |
| The US abides by the "One China" policy - a cornerstone of the two countries' diplomatic relationship which recognises only one Chinese government - and has formal ties with Beijing and not Taiwan. | The US abides by the "One China" policy - a cornerstone of the two countries' diplomatic relationship which recognises only one Chinese government - and has formal ties with Beijing and not Taiwan. |
| But it also maintains a "robust unofficial" relationship with the island. That includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend itself. | But it also maintains a "robust unofficial" relationship with the island. That includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend itself. |
| China and Taiwan: The basics | China and Taiwan: The basics |
| Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary | Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary |
| How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces | How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces |
| Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan, but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself | Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan, but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself |