Canadian and Australian Warships Transit Taiwan Strait... Chinese Military Maintains Control

The Chinese People's Liberation Army reportedly monitored and controlled the situation as Canadian and Australian warships transited the Taiwan Strait.

Joint naval exercises in the South China Sea by the Philippine, Australian, and Canadian navies. Yonhap News Agency

The Global Times, an English-language newspaper affiliated with the People's Daily of the Chinese Communist Party, reported on the 6th, citing sources, "The Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Australian Navy's air defense missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane transited the Taiwan Strait today." The report added, "The People's Liberation Army maintained thorough surveillance throughout the passage of the Taiwan Strait," and stated, "The situation was completely under control."

Canadian public broadcaster CTV News reported the previous day that the locations of the vessels were confirmed through the ship identification system transponder, and that Canadian and Australian warships had entered the Taiwan Strait.

CTV News stated, "The Canadian HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Australian HMAS Brisbane entered the Taiwan Strait, which China claims as part of its territorial waters," and added, "The Canadian Ministry of National Defense did not confirm whether the warships had entered, but announced that it would issue a statement on the evening of the 6th."

The entry of Canadian and Australian warships into the Taiwan Strait took place immediately after the Chinese military voiced criticism of the joint exercises conducted by the Philippines, Australia, and Canada near the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Dao in China) in the South China Sea, a disputed territory, on the 2nd and 3rd.

The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army issued a statement on the 3rd, saying, "The Chinese Navy conducted regular patrols in the South China Sea," and claimed, "The Philippines is undermining regional peace and stability by bringing in extraterritorial countries to conduct so-called 'joint patrols.'"

The statement further emphasized, "The theater command units always maintain a high level of alertness and are resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," and stressed, "Any attempt to disrupt the South China Sea and foment disputes will not succeed."