China Condemns passage of Canadian and Australian Warships Through Taiwan Strait
Beijing, China – The Chinese military issued a strong condemnation Saturday following the passage of two warships – a Canadian frigate and an Australian destroyer – through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.China views the transit as a deliberate “provocation” and a destabilizing act.
According to a statement released by the Eastern Operations Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the warships involved were the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane, both equipped with guided missile capabilities.The PLA asserted its forces “closely monitored” the vessels and issued warnings, claiming to have “successfully responded” to their presence.
The PLA statement further warned that the actions of Canada and Australia “send the wrong signals and increase security risks” in the region.As of this reporting, neither the Canadian nor Australian militaries have issued a public response to the Chinese claims.
The operation was initially reported by China’s state-run Global Times news outlet.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed it was closely observing the activity in the Strait, stating it deployed “appropriate air and naval forces to ensure security and stability” in the waterway separating mainland China from the self-governed island of Taiwan.
Transits of the Taiwan Strait by naval vessels, particularly those of the United States and its allies – including Canada, the United Kingdom, and France – occur roughly once a month. These nations maintain the Strait is international water, a position Taiwan also supports. China, however, claims the strategically vital waterway as part of its territorial waters, a claim rejected by the Taiwanese government.
Over the past five years, China has significantly increased military pressure on Taiwan, including conducting large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island, signaling its resolve regarding its sovereignty claims.
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