BEIJING, 25 November 2021, (TON): The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy dispatched ships and aircraft to monitor the operations of the US Navy destroyer Milius (Arleigh Burke class) as it passed through the narrow strait separating the mainland and Taiwan.

It was the first such crossing of the Taiwan Strait since President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Joe Biden held a video summit earlier this month, at which the Chinese President warned Biden that supporting Taiwan’s independence would be “playing with fire.”

We remind you that the destroyer Milius is equipped with two launchers of the Aegis missile defense system, as well as the launchers of the Harpoon or Tomahawk anti-ship cru-ise missiles.

The US Seventh Fleet said the destroyer’s passage through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday was a routine transit.

PLA spokesman Zhao said “US warships have repeatedly demonstrated their strength and carried out provocations in the Taiwan Strait under the guise of freedom of navigation. This is not a promise of freedom and openness, but a deliberate action aimed at destroying regional peace and stability. The US must immediately correct its mistakes, stop playing with fire.”