Rising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait: Chinese Military Condemns Passage of Canadian and Australian Warships as a "Provocation"

A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), Shi Yi, stated today (Saturday) that the PLA remains on high alert and is fully prepared to resolutely protect national sovereignty and security, as well as to safeguard regional peace and stability. Shi Yi's comments came in response to the passage of Canadian and Australian warships through the Taiwan Strait.

Shi Yi described the transit of the Canadian frigate "Quebec" and the Australian destroyer "Brisbane" as "provocative actions" that "sent the wrong signals and increased security risks." The spokesperson confirmed that naval and air forces of the Eastern Theater Command closely monitored and tracked the two warships throughout their transit of the strait and took effective countermeasures accordingly.

These remarks underscore China's firm stance against any foreign military presence in the Taiwan Strait, a waterway Beijing considers part of its sovereign territory. The swift and public response from the Chinese military to this incident highlights the growing tensions in the region and signals that China will not hesitate to express its opposition to any actions it perceives as a threat to its national security.