Beijing on Friday strongly criticised the passage of a Canadian warship through the Taiwan Strait, warning against what it called attempts to undermine China’s sovereignty and security under the “pretext of freedom of navigation.”
The reaction came after reports confirmed that the Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown sailed through the sensitive waterway last week without being accompanied by allied naval vessels. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China respects navigation rights under international law, but firmly opposes any country carrying out actions that threaten its territorial integrity and national security.
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and considers the Taiwan Strait part of its strategic sphere, while Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and maintains that the strait is an international waterway. The transit has once again highlighted rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing military activity around Taiwan.
Taiwan’s defence authorities said they closely monitored the movement of naval forces in the area and reiterated their commitment to maintaining regional stability. Canada has not yet issued a detailed official statement on the operation.
The Taiwan Strait remains a major geopolitical flashpoint, with warships from the United States and allied nations frequently conducting “freedom of navigation” missions that China often condemns as provocations.
China’s statement follows increasing military and diplomatic tensions in the Taiwan Strait region.
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