US Missile Destroyer Sailing In Taiwan Strait, China: Troops In The Area Are Alert

US missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Andrew Young)

JAKARTA - China's military said it had monitored and warned US missile destroyers sailing in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement that the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) missile destroyer transited "routine" in the strait in accordance with international law.

The Chinese military described the cruise as a "public furore", adding it had sent naval and air forces to monitor and warn the US ship, "handling it in accordance with laws and regulations".

"The troops in the region remain vigilant at all times and will firmly maintain national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability," the East Region Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said the ship was sailing north through the strait, with Taiwanese troops having been monitoring the situation but not finding anything unusual.

China claims sovereignty over democratically-ruled Taiwan, says it has jurisdiction over the strait.

Meanwhile, Taiwan and the United States denied this, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international watersway.

There are also military ships and aircraft in the country, Uncle Sam routinely crosses the narrow strait once a month.