Canada, Australia Warships Transit Taiwan Strait Amid Tensions

Chinese media have reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) monitored the passage of Canadian and Australian warships through the Taiwan Strait and maintained full control of the situation. Recently, China has been regularly violating the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as a de facto border between the two sides of the strait (China and Taiwan), while at the same time pursuing a strategy of "internal navalization."

China's state-run Global Times reported on September 6, citing sources, that "the Canadian frigate HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC and the Australian Navy's anti-aircraft missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE passed through the Taiwan Strait on the same day" and added that "the People's Liberation Army conducted thorough monitoring during their passage through the Taiwan Strait, and the situation was completely under control." Prior to that, Canadian public broadcaster CTV News had reported that "Canada's HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC and Australia's HMAS BRISBANE have entered the Taiwan Strait, which China considers part of its territorial waters."

The entry of Canadian and Australian warships into the Taiwan Strait occurred shortly after recent joint exercises by the Philippines, Canada, and Australia in the South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao in Chinese). The Philippines conducted joint navigation operations with Canada and Australia in the area for two days from September 2 to 3. According to Philippine media, the exercise area is within the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone (EEZ)."

In response, the Southern Military Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China issued a timely statement, warning that "the Philippines is undermining regional peace and stability by involving non-regional countries in so-called 'joint cruises'" and that "any attempt to create disruptions and provoke disputes in the South China Sea will not succeed." In response to China's reaction, local Philippine media, including Philstar, reported that a spokesman for the Philippine Navy had stated: "This is part of China's malicious influence operations."