China criticises Australia, Canada warships in Taiwan Strait
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A Chinese People's Liberation Army navy ship (left) is seen with the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Brisbane participating in a maritime exercise near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Sept 3.
PHOTO: AFP
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BEIJING - China said on Sept 6 that its military monitored the passage of Australian and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait, criticising their presence in the sensitive waterway as “causing trouble”.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the self-ruled island from the Chinese mainland.
“On Sept 6, the Canadian frigate Quebec and the Australian destroyer Brisbane transited the Taiwan Strait, causing trouble and provoking,” said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The PLA “organised naval and air forces to monitor and supervise their entire transits, effectively responding and handling the situation”, Col Shi said in a statement.
“The actions of Canada and Australia send the wrong signals and increase security risks,” he added.
“(Chinese) troops remain on high alert at all times, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability.”
A spokesperson said the Canadian armed forces do not comment on sail plans for currently deployed ships.
The spokesperson said the Ville de Quebec was deployed as part of Operation Horizon, meant to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Ville de Quebec was operating in the Philippine economic zone earlier this week, participating in freedom of navigation exercises, according to a Canadian government statement.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Australian armed forces.
China has not ruled out the use of force to take control of democratic Taiwan.
Beijing has ramped up deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its sovereignty claim, which Taipei rejects.
The United States frequently sends ships through the Taiwan Strait, and several of its Western allies have increased their presence with regular – though less common – transits.
In June, China criticised the United Kingdom
