Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/29
By: Chiang Chin-ye and Evelyn Kao 

Washington, Jan. 28 (CNA) The Taiwan Strait is international waters and U.S. warships have the right to pass through the waterway, Chief U.S. Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson reaffirmed on Monday.

Richardson was responding to questions at a forum held by Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution about how the United States interacted with China when two U.S. naval ships passed through the strait last week.

He said that when U.S. naval ships pass through the strait, all parties concerned will respond professionally and that “there is no concern there.”

Asked about whether the U.S. would send aircraft carriers to sail through the strait in the future, Richardson sidestepped the question, saying only that the Taiwan Strait is international waters and anything that can be done in international waters applies to the strait.    [FULL  STORY]