China condemns the passage of Canadian and Australian warships through the Taiwan Strait, describing it as "provocative"

The Chinese military condemned the passage of a Canadian warship and an Australian warship through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, describing the move as "provocative".

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army stated that the Canadian frigate "Ville de Québec" and the Australian guided-missile destroyer "Brisbane" were attempting to "create trouble and provoke". The command added in a statement that Chinese air and naval forces monitored the two ships and warned them, and that they "responded effectively".

China warned that the actions of Canada and Australia "send the wrong signals and increase security risks". No official comment has yet been issued by the Canadian or Australian armed forces.

For its part, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that it is closely monitoring activity in the strait and "deploying appropriate air and naval forces to ensure security and stability" for the waterway that separates China from Taiwan.

It is noted that U.S. military ships, and sometimes ships from allied countries such as Canada, Britain, and France, transit the strait about once a month, and it is considered an international waterway.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and describes the waters of the strait as territorial, despite the existence of an independent government on the island since 1949. Adhering to the "One China" principle is a fundamental requirement for countries wishing to establish or maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.