7th Fleet Destroyer Transits Taiwan Strait with Canadian Frigate

The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) conducts a routine Taiwan Strait transit Sept. 20. Higgins is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. *U.S. NAVY / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Donavan K. Patubo*

TAIWAN STRAIT — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76), in cooperation with Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Sept. 20 (local time) through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs said Sept. 20.

The ships transited through a corridor in the Strait beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. Higgins’ and Vancouver’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and its allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific.