Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), stressed in a communique that the transit this Wednesday of the destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) through that area, once again demonstrated that Washington is the main troublemaker of peace and stability there.

Apart from rejecting this maneuver, the PLA mobilized its air and naval commands to monitor the ship’s transit, it is in a position to deal with any threat and ‘has determination, confidence and ability to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity,’ the official added.

Since mid-2020, China has conducted multiple drills of real combat in the Taiwan Strait and other maritime areas, following continued military incursions by Washington.

On Wednesday, China reiterated zero tolerance to the separatist actions, and warned the promoters of independence in the island that it will be reunified and any attempt against that aspiration will be neutralized.

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