About

• The Taiwan Strait connects the East China Sea to the South China Sea, separating the island of Taiwan from the mainland of China. 
• The strait is approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) wide at its narrowest point and serves as a vital waterway for international shipping, as well as being a strategically significant region in East Asia.
• It is a highly sensitive area, as China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the strait as part of its territory  and considers any foreign military activity in the region as provocative.
• Taiwan, The U.S. and other Western nations, however, regard the strait as international waters and continue to conduct operations there to assert freedom of navigation.

Why in the news?

• A Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time to assert freedom of navigation, following a recent passage of a Chinese aircraft carrier near Japan.