American warships passed through the Taiwan Strait for the second time this month, prompting China to dispatch its forces to follow and speak out in protest.

The US Navy announced that the destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur had made "normal and compliant international legal movements" through the Taiwan Strait on December 31.

This is the second time that a US warship has passed through the Taiwan Strait in December, and is also the 13th time the US Navy has performed this task this year.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense criticized the US navy's activities as "show of strength and provocation", adding that Beijing has deployed warships and aircraft to monitor Washington's destroyer squadron.

The Taiwanese armed forces said the US warships group was moving in a south-north direction.

China considers Taiwan a part of territory awaiting reunification, even by force if necessary and considers that passing through the strait is a "violation of sovereignty" by US warships, while the US and many countries see it here.

Beijing has recently increased pressure on Taipei, repeatedly holding large-scale exercises around the island of Taiwan with the most modern equipment in service.