China has been closely following a U.S. warship's transit through the Taiwan Strait, and hopes the U.S. side will play a constructive role for regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
The USS John S. McCain sailed through the Taiwan Strait earlier in the day, marking the U.S. Navy's first trip through the waterway in 2021, according to a U.S. Navy statement.
"China will continue to be on high alert, stand ready to deal with any threats and provocations, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily press briefing.
