While China regularly protests against U.S. military movements in the Taiwan Strait, the water's legal status has not previously been a regular talking point in meetings with U.S. officials.

During meetings with American counterparts in recent months, Chinese military officials have repeatedly confirmed that the Taiwan Strait is not part of international waters.

China has always maintained that the Taiwan Strait is part of its exclusive economic zone and considers that there are limits to foreign military vessels' activities in those waters.

According to Bloomberg, the statement questioning the United States' view of international law has been delivered to the U.S. government by Chinese officials on various occasions and at multiple levels.

According to the United States and its key allies, most parts of the Strait constitute its international waters and routinely send naval vessels through the waterway as part of freedom of navigation exercises.

While America is also conducting freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea to challenge China's territorial claims over disputed advantages, it is unclear whether recent assurances indicate that China will take further steps to counter naval ships entering the Taiwan Strait.

In a speech on Saturday, during an event in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that China was unilaterally trying to change the status quo when it comes to Taiwan.

Austin told delegates at a security forum: "We are witnessing increasing coercion from Beijing, and we have seen a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan... This includes army aircraft flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months and on an almost daily basis. "

Austin's speech on Sunday was followed by Chinese National Defence Minister Wei Fenghe reiterating Beijing's willingness to fight to prevent Taiwan's secession, but did not explicitly mention the legal status of the Taiwan Strait in his remarks.

Wei said: "If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight... We will fight at all costs, we will fight until the end, and that is the only option for China ".