US warship sails through Taiwan Strait on anniversary of brutal Tiananmen Square massacre
THE US and Taiwanese militaries have confirmed a US warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday.
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Thursday marked the 31st anniversary of China using tanks and assault rifles to crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. As China claims the straits as its own, the move is likely to anger Beijing. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry confirmed the ship had transited the strait before heading south.
Taiwan’s armed forces described the ship as being on an “ordinary mission”.
The US Pacific Fleet identified the warship as the USS Russell on its Facebook page.
The USS Russell is a 154m long destroyer.
It has previously seen action in the South China Sea and Gulf of Oman.
Events to mark the events in Tiananmen Square took place in Taiwan and Chinese controlled Hong Kong, which officially operates political, economic and judicial autonomy from mainland China.
This was despite Hong Kong police previously banning plans for a vigil, citing fears over coronavirus.
Despite this, thousands gathered in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island.
Hundreds gathered in Mong Kok in the Kowloon Peninsula for a community commemoration.
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The police deployed pepper spray and according to Hong Kong Free Press took away at least four people in Mong Kok.
Over 200 congregated outside Langham Place, a Mong Kok shopping mall.
They lit candles and observed a moment’s silence at 8.09pm.
It is not clear how many people died in Tiananmen Square 31 years ago.
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At around 9pm, some of those remaining tried to throw barricades onto Argyle Street.
Hong Kong has been rocked since last year rocked with protests over a controversial extradition bill.
The bill would have given the city’s Chief Executive the power to extradite people to nations the city did not have an extradition bill with.
Critics were concerned the bill would put the the population at risk of political production from mainland authorities.
Though the bill was later withdrawn, protests continued over democratic freedoms.
Taiwan was founded as the Republic of China (ROC) after nationalists fled to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China.
Both the ROC and People’s Republic of China (PRC) consider themselves to the legitimate Government of China.
The PRC considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province.
The Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen considered a declaration of independence unnecessary due to Taiwan’s de facto independence.