Tensions flared once again in the Taiwan Strait as U.S. and Canadian warships passed through the contested waters over the weekend, drawing sharp condemnation from Beijing. The passage comes just a week after China’s aggressive military drills near Taiwan, stoking fears of escalation in the region.
A U.S. destroyer and Canadian frigate sailed through the strait on Sunday, a move the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet defended as a demonstration of “freedom of navigation.” However, China swiftly condemned the transit, with Senior Captain Li Xi of the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command claiming the operation “undermined peace and stability.”
China, which claims Taiwan as its own, insists that such actions infringe on its sovereignty. In response, Chinese officials reiterated their stance that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory,” as war games escalate tensions between the island and the mainland.
