On Sunday, the U.S. military sent two Navy warships, the William P. Lawrence and Stethem, through the Taiwan Straight to show their support for Taiwan. The Taiwan Straight is located north of the South China Sea, an unclaimed sea that is disputed over by China and other Pacific islands. While the United States does not have formal ties with Taiwan, the two countries have been bound by law since the end of World War II when the United States agreed to provide military aid. Since then, Taiwan has been a major player in Sino-American relations. Not only is the United States an ally of Taiwan because of their legal agreement, but because of its proximity to China, Taiwan serves as a point of American pressure against the Chinese. Ever since the rise of communism, the United States has continuously attempted to remain a maritime power to surround strong communist countries in the Asian continent. With Taiwan as an ally, the United States can have a presence in the Pacific sea. The United States’ Navy ships emphasized the United States’ power in the Pacific and served as a threat to China. Recent economic affairs between the United States and China have not been strong; the dispute over tariffs has continued to cause domestic issues in both countries. The sending of ships through the Taiwan Straight can be seen as pressure from the United States to resolve this trade dispute with a result that favors of the United States. While the United States isn’t powerful enough to force China to act, they can sway the Chinese’s actions by asserting themselves in the Chinese’s territory.
