Beijing has criticized the transit of these ships, labeling it an act of provocation.
China’s military establishment has criticized the movement of Canadian and Australian naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, characterizing it as a provocative act.
Beijing views Taiwan – which has governed itself since 1949 following the Chinese Civil War and the retreat of nationalist forces – as an integral part of its domain, adhering to the One-China principle.
Furthermore, China asserts sovereignty over the strait itself. Although neither Canada nor Australia officially acknowledge Taiwan as an independent nation, numerous countries, such as the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Australia, consider the strait to be an international waterway and routinely conduct passages through it.
The Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane navigated the strait early on Saturday. This occurred a day after Beijing accused both countries of heightening tensions through military exercises in the South China Sea.
China reported that its military units monitored and issued warnings to the ships, categorizing the maneuver as “trouble-making and provocation.”
“The activities undertaken by Canadian and Australian forces convey incorrect messages and elevate security risks,” stated the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Australian Defense Department indicated that the HMAS Brisbane conducted a “routine transit” alongside the Canadian vessel between September 6 and 7. The spokesperson further stated, “Australian ships and aircraft will persist in asserting freedom of navigation and upholding international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
The Canadian Joint Operations Command chose not to comment on the passage, explaining that the Ville de Quebec was involved in Operation Horizon, Canada’s Indo-Pacific mission focused on fostering “peace and stability.”
Previously this week, the frigate also participated in what Canada and its allies characterized as freedom-of-navigation exercises off the coast of the Philippines, involving Australia, the US, and local forces. Beijing dismissed these claims, condemning the drills and accusing Manila of conspiring with Western nations to destabilize the region.
The Taiwan Strait, recognized as among the world’s busiest maritime routes, continues to be a crucial artery for international commerce and a point of tension between China and Western naval forces. Earlier in the year, another Canadian frigate, HMCS Montreal, similarly navigated the strait in what Ottawa termed a standard passage. The Chinese military then pledged to “resolutely implement countermeasures against any threats or provocations.”