The US Navy' announced that a US guided missile destroyer transited the Taiwan Strait, then sailed along China's coast on Aug. 18. In response, the PRC sent its Nanjing destroyer to tail the vessel. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed the news, saying it's just a "routine mission."


The US Navy's Seventh Fleet announced on its Facebook that an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait along the southeast coast of Matsu's Dongyin Island and the coast of China on the 18th. China sent a Nanjing destroyer to tail the USS Mustin. The ROC Ministry of National Defense, meanwhile, confirmed that a US vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait.

A US naval destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait on a southerly course. It continued moving south after leaving the Taiwan Strait. This was a routine mission.

According to reports, Taiwan also sent a Cheng Kung-class frigate to monitor both the US and PRC destroyers. The ministry would only say it had everything under control. Several days ago, the USS Mustin joined Japan's Akizuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki to conduct integrated operations in the East China Sea. With tensions rising between China and the US, the New York Times reported on the 17th the US may send a fleet to engage in exercises with Taiwan in an article entitled "U.S. Tries to Bolster Taiwan's Status, Short of Recognizing Sovereignty."

Under the Taiwan Relations Act which calls for joint maintenance of regional peace and stability, the Ministry of National Defense is also accommodating the central government's overall foreign affairs policies in promoting various types of military exchanges. The ministry has no comment on media theories and speculation.

China has been making moves to occupy the Pratas Islands recently, and Kuomintang lawmaker Chen Yu-jen is convening a visit by the legislative Internal Administration Committee to the Islands on the 20th. The ministry says it will provide the group with the latest updates on the islands for reference. With regards to military personnel not being able to take scheduled leave because of the visit, the ministry says the Coast Guard is dealing with the situation.



台海情勢再度升溫，美國海軍第七艦隊主動在臉書發布，勃克級飛彈驅逐艦馬斯廷18號從馬祖東引島東南方海域，一路向北通過台灣海峽，部署到美軍第七艦隊，途中，還沿著中國海岸線的海峽中線以西航行，惹來共軍高度警戒，派遣南京艦尾隨監控，國防部也證實，美艦有穿越台灣海峽。

國防部發言人 史順文表示：「美軍有一艘作戰艦，由北向南，航經台灣海峽之後，繼續向南航行，那麼美艦航經台灣海峽，是執行一般性的航行任務。」

不只共軍出動南京艦掌握馬斯廷號動態，傳出我方也派出成功級艦監控中美雙方動態，對此，國防部語帶保留，強調有掌握相關軍情動態，而馬斯廷號日前先跟日本驅逐艦涼月號，在東海舉行綜合演習，接著才通過台灣海峽。面對中美關係持續惡化，紐約時報以「美國力圖鞏固台灣地位，只差承認主權」為題，指出美方有意提升與鞏固台灣地位，甚至可能派艦訪台、演訓交流。

國防部發言人 史順文表示：「雙邊是基於台灣關係法，共同維護區域的和平穩定。國防部也配合，政府整體的外交政策，穩健務實來推動各項的軍事交流。媒體所臆測的一些相關的內容，本部這邊沒有評論。」

外界觀察共軍奪取我東沙島的野心，與日俱增，國民黨立委陳玉珍預定20號，安排立法院內政委員會委員，前往東沙島考察，對此，國防部表示，會將區域情勢狀況提供給立委參考，另外，也傳出立委赴東沙島考察，導致官兵無法回台休假，國防部則表示，海巡署目前正在處理中。