PLA says US and Canada ‘hyped’ warships’ passage through Taiwan Strait
- The Chinese military says it sent planes and ships to shadow the USS Rafael Peralta and HMCS Ottawa during their transit
- US says the voyage was in line with international law and shows a commitment to a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’
The People’s Liberation Army said on Thursday it had been monitoring the activities of USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the Canadian navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa as they conducted the passage on the previous day.
“The PLA Eastern Theatre Command organised warplanes and ships to shadow and monitor the passage in line with laws and regulations,” Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for the command, said.
Shi described the transit as “publicly hyped”, adding: “Troops in the theatre remain on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.”
The US Navy’s 7th Fleet said: “[The warships] conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit November 1 through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law.”
Lieutenant Luka Bakic, a spokesman for the fleet, said the ships had passed through a corridor that was beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state.
“The transit was unremarkable, unprovocative and consistent with international law,” he said, adding the operation “demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific”.