TAIPEI: A United States and a Canadian warship have handed via waters separating Taiwan and China, per week after Beijing held large-scale military drills within the delicate passage.
The US and its allies recurrently cross via the 180km Taiwan Strait to bolster its standing as a global waterway, angering Beijing.
China’s Communist Get together has by no means dominated Taiwan, nevertheless it claims the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and has stated it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.
“The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) performed a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct 20,” the US Navy’s seventh Fleet stated in an announcement.
“Higgins and Vancouver’s transit via the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the USA’ and Canada’s dedication to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a precept.”
China stated on Monday (Oct 21) that the US and Canadian actions had disrupted “peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait”.
“The PLA Japanese Theater Command organised naval and air forces to observe and stay on alert all through the transit, dealing with the state of affairs based on legal guidelines and rules,” navy spokesperson Captain Li Xi stated in an announcement.
Taiwan’s defence and international ministries didn’t instantly reply to AFP’s request for remark.
