It today denounced the passage of ships of the Australian Navy and Canada from its strait, stressing that its presence in these waters separating the mainland from the island, whose sovereignty is claimed by Beijing, is “problematic”.
“On September 6, the Canadian Quebec frigate and the Australian Crucifixion Brisbane passed through the Taiwan Strait, which is problematic and provocative,” said Colonel Xi Y, the spokesman for the Eastern Chinese Army.
Beijing “watched their whole course, with naval and aerial means, effectively controlling the situation,” he added.
“The actions of Canada and Australia send the wrong message and increase the risks of security,” Si continued, stressing that the Chinese Armed Forces are always on alert to defend “national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability”.
China considers its Taiwan province, which it failed to incorporate into the mainland after the end of the civil war in 1949.
US warships often pass through the Taiwan Strait. The US and their allies have increased their naval presence in the region lately.
