TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) confirmed on Wednesday that Vietnam’s naval ships transited the Taiwan Strait this year.

Tsai said that military vessels from eight countries have made 12 transits of the Taiwan Strait so far this year, per Liberty Times. These countries include the US, UK, France, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Vietnam, which maintains friendly ties with China, was also among them.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a division director at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said Vietnam’s transit signals alignment with other partners and political coordination with the US. He noted that US Navy transits declined from 15 in 2020 to five in 2024.

Meanwhile, allied transits have increased, including those by the Netherlands, Turkey, and Germany.  

From an economic perspective, Su said the transit underscores regional concern over China potentially constricting the north–south shipping route. The Taiwan Strait handles 51% of global shipping and is vital for Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

Su concluded that Vietnam has leaned closer to the US in recent years, as seen in its compliance with US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. He added that Hanoi is navigating the US–China rivalry to advance its own interests, which run parallel to Taiwan.