Two US ships transit through Taiwan StraitBy Fang Wei-li / Staff reporterThe US’ Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer the USS John Finn and Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship USNS Mary Sears on Friday and Saturday sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said. “USS John Finn and Pathfinder-class survey ship USNS Mary Sears conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Jan. 16 to 17 through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law. “The transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. The international community’s navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited. Photo: Screen grab from USS Finn’s Facebook pageThis is the fourth time during US President Donald Trump’s second term that a US warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Taipei Times January 18, 2026 17:15 UTC