TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The U.S. Navy sailed two warships by way of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, within the first such transit publicized since U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier in August, at a time when tensions have saved the waterway significantly busy.

The usAntietam and USS Chancellorsville are conducting a routine transit, the U.S. seventh Fleet stated. The cruisers “transited by way of a hall within the Strait that’s past the territorial sea of any coastal State,” the assertion stated.

China carried out many army workouts within the strait because it sought to punish Taiwan after Pelosi visited the self-ruled island in opposition to Beijing’s threats.

China has despatched many warships crusing within the Taiwan Strait and waters surrounding Taiwan since Pelosi’s go to, in addition to sending warplanes and firing long-range missiles. It views the island as a part of its nationwide territory and opposes any visits by overseas governments as recognizing Taiwan as its personal state.

China stated it tracked the motion of the ships. “Troops of the (Japanese) Theater Command are on excessive alert and able to foil any provocation at any time,” stated senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Folks Liberation Military’s Japanese Theater Command.

White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby, talking on CNN on Sunday, stated the transit despatched a “very clear message, very constant message … that the USA Navy, the USA army will sail, fly and function wherever worldwide legislation permits us to take action.”

Kirby additionally famous the transit was “very in step with our ‘One China’ coverage, very in step with our want to guarantee that we are able to proceed to work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. commonly sends its ships by way of the Taiwan Strait as a part of what it calls freedom of navigation maneuvers.

The 100 mile-wide (160 kilometer-wide) strait divides Taiwan from China.