China claims that US presence in Taiwan Strait creates regional instability

China denounced the sailing of the Destroyer class battleship the USS Barry through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. US Navy officials called it a "routine Taiwan Strait transit," but China claimed that the United States was contributing towards military instability in the region.

The US vessel did not dock at any Chinese ports, enter Chinese waters, or otherwise cause any perceivable act of aggression. But the reason why Chinese leadership sees an American presence off its south-eastern coast as a threat isn't a hard one to unravel.

China wants to keep the Taiwan Strait clear of United States armed forces. In fact, China wants to keep the United States as far away from Taiwan as possible, according to Reuters. Beijing is afraid of an American-Taiwanese alliance that's only growing stronger.

For a long time now, China has seen both the Taiwan Strait as well as the democratic Island of Taiwan as rightful Chinese territories and has made unsettling suggestions that it would use whatever means available in order to return both to Chinese control—including that of military force.

To some international onlookers, it might seem like a far cry from something that would actually happen. After all, China likes to talk big. But this wouldn't be the first time China has used its strength to crush the autonomy of and consolidate an independent democratic region. As demonstrated by Beijing's Security Law, imposed on the free city of Hong Kong this past summer, China has a history of using legal and security issues to ultimately apply force and exert control.

"Protecting" an otherwise uncontested international body of water like the Taiwan strait for security purposes sounds like an all-too familiar circumstance.

While the Chinese haven't made use of armed forces yet, Xi Jinping  has attempted to persuade Taiwan to surrender its autonomy a number of times and by various means. Beijing has offered Taiwan economic partnerships and leveled political threats. But Taiwan and its leadership have made it clear that Taiwanese independence is here to stay.

Much to the frustration of Beijing, in January of 2020, Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-Wen—a Democratic-minded President set on keeping the boundaries between Taiwan and China clearly defined.

"This election is about whether or not we choose freedom and democracy," Tsai said. "We must work to keep our country safe and defend our sovereignty."

The United States and the Trump administration stand behind Taiwan, one of the few Democracies in the region—something that China sees as a direct threat towards its plan of re-acquiring Taiwan. China has repeatedly accused the US of "collusion" with the free island state.

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of state, recently reaffirmed the US's commitment to stand by Taiwain on the international stage.

"The United States has had a longstanding relationship with Taiwan," Pompeo said. "We operate under the same set of principles."

On Tuesday, the Trump administration notified Congress of its plan to make three advanced-arms sales to Taiwan, in an attempt to strengthen its ally and continue good relations with Taipei. These arms include long-range rocket systems, Standoff Land-Missile Expanded Response, cruise missiles, and F-16 fighter jet components as well as drone technology.

A Chinese embassy representative made it clear that China stood in opposition to all such transactions.

"China consistently and firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan, and has firm resolve in upholding its sovereignty and security," the representative said.