The US and Canadian warships have passed through the Taiwan Strait, which is a violation of peace and stability in the region, Li Xi, spokesman of the East Zone of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) Eastern Combat Command, said on Monday.
Li Xi’s official statement on social networking site WeChat emphasised that the US destroyer USS Higgins and the Canadian patrol ship Vancouver had sailed through the Taiwan Strait. The statement also said:
Such actions cause unrest and raise questions about security and stability in the region. The situation must be closely monitored and diplomatic avenues must be sought to resolve conflicts.
Naval and air forces from the Eastern Area Combat Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China’s Eastern Combat Zone have been dispatched to monitor and control the passage of US and Canadian ships, Li Xi also added. The action is prompted by rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and is in response to the US and Canadian military forces.
Meanwhile, the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement:
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on October 20. The transit of Higgins and Vancouver through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States and Canada’s commitment to the principle of respecting freedom of navigation for all nations.
The situation around Taiwan has become even more tense since Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in early August 2022. China, which regards Taiwan as one of its provinces, strongly condemned the visit, seeing it as US support for Taiwanese separatism.
Official relations between the Chinese central government and Taiwan broke down in 1949 after the defeat of the Kuomintang forces in the civil war and their retreat to the island under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek. This historical fact was the starting point for a long and complex political dynamic in the region.
Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate, causing concern in the international community. Visits by high-level foreign dignitaries to the island only heighten tensions and emphasise the complexity of the geopolitical environment in the region.
