Two U.S. warships on Saturday positioned themselves in the narrow Taiwan Strait which is between Taiwan and China.
The Taiwanese defense ministry stated that the two ships, the USS Mustin and USS Benfold, entered the waterway Saturday morning, The Hill reported.
“The military is monitoring the situation in neighboring areas, and has the confidence and abilities to maintain regional stability and defend national security,” the statement read.
Taiwanese officials said the ships were traveling in international waters.
China considers Taiwan as part of the country; however, Taiwan sees itself as an independent nation.
The warships’ maneuvering comes at a time when there are heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and China, especially after President Donald Trump on Friday imposed steep 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese products.
The Chinese government accused Washington for starting “the biggest trade war in economic history” and promised to retaliate.
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