China on Saturday said its military monitored the passage of Australian and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait and criticized their presence in the sensitive waterway which “causes problems”.
Beijing considers Taiwan as part of his territory and claims jurisdiction over the water mass separating the self -controlled island from the Chinese mainland.
“On September 6th, Canadian frigate ‘Quebec’ and the Australian destruction ‘Brisbane’ Taiwan Strait, causing trouble and provoked,” said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command for People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
PLA “Organized naval and air forces to monitor and oversee their entire transites and effectively respond and handle the situation,” Shi said in a statement.
“The actions of Canada and Australia send the wrong signals and increase security risks,” he added.
“[Chinese] Troops remain on high alarms at all times and protect the national sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability. “
Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to push his sovereignty requirements that Taipei rejects.
The United States often send ships through the Taiwan Strait, and several of its Western allies have increased their presence with regular – though less common – transites.
In June, China criticized the United Kingdom for sending a navy -blue patrol vessel through the waterway and saying the “undermining peace and stability”.
