A Japanese warship, the JS Sazanami, sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time, accompanied by Australian and New Zealand ships, en route to military exercises in the South China Sea. This marks a significant move by Japan, which has previously avoided the strait to not upset China. Neither Japan, Taiwan, nor China officially commented, but Chinese media reported that the Chinese military monitored the passage. The US and allies have increased patrols in the strait to assert freedom of navigation, challenging Beijing’s sovereignty claims. Recently, Germany also sailed through the strait, drawing criticism from China.