French Naval Presence Ignites Tensions in Taiwan Strait

A French naval ship navigated the Taiwan Strait, revealing ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. The U.S. navy's regular transit of the strait and China's military exercises highlight conflicting sovereignty claims. The incident underscores the strategic importance of this international trade route.

A French naval ship has made its way through the Taiwan Strait, as confirmed by Taiwan's defense ministry on Tuesday. This marks another strategic mission by a Western nation in the highly disputed waterway.

While ships from U.S. allies occasionally join the U.S. navy in transiting the strait, this occurs about once a month, amid China's territorial claims over Taiwan. According to the Taiwan defense ministry, the French vessel journeyed north through the strait on Monday night, closely monitored by Taiwanese military.

This event follows similar passages by the French and German navies in past months, which have drawn ire from China. Despite Beijing's assertion of control over the strait, the U.S. and Taiwan maintain that it remains an international waterway.

(With inputs from agencies.)