US warships sail into Taiwan Strait

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Two United States warships entered the Taiwan Strait on Saturday at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The destroyers USS Mustin and USS Benfold sailed into the waterway separating Taiwan and China on Saturday morning, Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed.

“The military is monitoring the situation in neighboring areas, and has the confidence and abilities to maintain regional stability and defend national security,” it said in a statement.

A defense ministry official told AFP the ships were still in the strait on Saturday night.

US Pacific Fleet spokesperson Captain Charlie Brown confirmed two vessels were transiting through the strait.