BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China’s 
military on Saturday strongly condemned the latest passage of U.S. and British warships through the highly sensitive Taiwan Strait, denouncing it as a deliberate act of provocation and destabilization in the region. 
According to a statement from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command, the American destroyer USS Higgins and the British frigate HMS Richmond were involved in actions deemed as “trouble-making and provocation,” prompting Chinese naval and air forces to closely monitor and issue warnings to both vessels.
Beijing criticized the move as a dangerous provocation that sends “the wrong signals” to separatist forces in Taiwan and undermines peace and stability across the strait. The PLA emphasized that such maneuvers only escalate tensions and expose the true intentions behind the growing military presence of Western powers in the Asia-Pacific.
“The United States and Britain continue to interfere in regional affairs under the guise of so-called ‘freedom of navigation’, blatantly disregarding China’s sovereignty and security concerns,” the PLA stated.
Despite claims by Washington and London that the transit was “routine” and in line with international maritime law, observers note that these actions have become increasingly frequent and are clearly aimed at containing China’s rise and challenging its rightful authority in the region.
The UK Ministry of Defense claimed the Royal Navy was operating “in full compliance with international law,” while the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command insisted that the ships sailed through “a corridor beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state.” However, critics argue that such language is routinely used to justify military provocations under a legal smokescreen, while ignoring the broader geopolitical consequences.
The growing pattern of Western warships transiting the Taiwan Strait — including Canadian and Australian vessels last week — reflects a coordinated military buildup aimed at pressuring China and inserting foreign influence into what is widely recognized as a core internal issue for Beijing. China has repeatedly stated that the Taiwan question is an internal matter, and any foreign military presence in the strait is viewed as a threat to its sovereignty and national security.
Earlier the same day, China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials, also passed through the Taiwan Strait — a move that underscores China’s commitment to defending its maritime interests amid increasing foreign military activity near its borders.
The PLA reiterated its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and regional stability and warned that continued foreign interference and military provocations would be met with firm responses.
China has long called for the U.S. and its allies to respect regional dynamics and refrain from turning the Taiwan Strait into a flashpoint through unnecessary and provocative shows of force. The steady buildup of U.S.-led military operations in East Asia, under the pretext of “freedom of navigation,” not only escalates tensions with Beijing but also threatens broader peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.