Chinese warship comes close to hitting US destroyer in Taiwan Strait

A Chinese warship came close to colliding with the USS Chung-Hoon, as the U.S. destroyer was conducting a routine joint exercise with Canada in the Taiwan Strait, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

The incident Saturday came amid heightened tensions in the region over the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway region that it will be reunited with, even through the use of force if necessary. 

The Chinese ship "executed maneuvers in an unsafe manner" near the U.S. destroyer, U.S. command said. The Chinese ship overtook the U.S. destroyer and "crossed their bow at 150 yards," and in order to avoid a collision, the U.S. vessel slowed to 10 knots, officials said. 

American officials said that the Chinese vessel's actions "violated the maritime 'Rules of the Road' of safe passage in international waters" and that the U.S. and Canada are committed "to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.