Canadian warship passes through Taiwan Strait, China reacts
Aug 01, 2024
Canada says the HMCS Montreal's transit through the Taiwan Strait reaffirms Canada's commitment to a free and open Indo- Pacific region.
Reuters reported on August 1 that a Canadian warship had just passed through the Taiwan Strait , in a move Canada called a commitment to a free and open Indo- Pacific region.
The Canadian Department of National Defense said the frigate HMCS Montreal "recently conducted a routine transit" through the strait, which Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said reaffirmed Canada's commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
"As outlined in our Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is increasing the Royal Canadian Navy's presence in the Indo-Pacific region," Blair said, referring to Canada's plans for the region, announced in 2022.
Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed that a Canadian warship passed through the Taiwan Strait on July 31 and that Taiwan had full control of the situation as the ship headed south. The ministry said "the situation is normal."
Meanwhile, Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for China's Eastern Theater Command, said the Canadian destroyer had "harassed and disrupted the situation, and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
He added that the Chinese military is always on high alert and "ready to respond to any threats and provocations".
Earlier in June, the US Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy said two warships from these countries passed through the Taiwan Strait on a joint mission.
The US 7th Fleet said the destroyer USS Chung Hoon and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Montreal "conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on June 3 (local time) through waters where freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas is exercised under international law ."
"The Chung Hoon and Montreal's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the 7th Fleet.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
