U.S., Canadian ships transit Taiwan Strait
ROC Central News Agency
09/09/2023 10:16 PM
Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) A United States destroyer and a Canadian frigate on Saturday transited the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The ships, coming from the north, sailed in a southerly direction, the MND said in a statement.
The MND said it was closely monitoring the airspace and waters around Taiwan as the ships made the transit.
Separately on Saturday, the U.S. 7th Fleet issued a statement about the transit and identified the ships as Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341).
According to the statement, the ships were "conducting a routine Taiwan Strait transit through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law."
"The ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state," the statement said.
"Ralph Johnson and Ottawa's bilateral transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the statement.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command slammed the U.S. and Canada for "trumpeting" the transit.
Shih Yi (施毅), a spokesman for the command, said the PLA was on guard and shadowed the ships throughout the transit, and will deal with the action in accordance with the law, but Shih did not specify what law.
He added that the command was on high alert at all times and was resolute in its resolve to defend China's sovereignty and security.
(By Sean Lin)
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