US and Canadian warships cross the Taiwan Strait

Warships from the United States and Canada crossed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, June 3, the navies of the two countries reported, on a joint mission in this area that separates the autonomous island from mainland China.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to one day regain control, without ruling out the use of force.

Relations between the two regions have deteriorated in recent years, with increasing military and political pressure from Beijing toward the island.

The US Seventh Fleet announced Saturday that the Royal Canadian Navy’s destroyer USS Chung Hun and HMCS Montreal “made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on June 3.”

The US Navy said “freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas applies to these waters consistent with international law.”

She added that the transit of ships through the region demonstrates “the commitment of the United States and our partners to the freedom and openness of the Indo-Pacific region.”

It is common to see ships from the United States pass through the strait, but they rarely do so with ships from another country. The last time a joint mission was carried out in this region was in September 2022.

In a message on Twitter, the Canadian Navy said the two countries are “partners [que] They are working for peace and security in the region.”

The Chinese military said it had supervised the ship’s passage.

“Relevant countries deliberately create problems in the Taiwan Strait, deliberately intensify risks, and maliciously undermine regional peace and stability,” said Colonel Shi Yi, a military spokesman.

Last week, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and two other ships crossed this 180-kilometre-wide area, in a new show of force after Chinese military exercises around the island in April.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing have escalated in recent months. The US’s relationship with Taiwan has been one of the points of friction between the two powers.