"The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said the Australian guided-missile destroyer Brisbane and the Canadian frigate Ville de Quebec were engaged in trouble-making and provocation. The actions of the Canadians and Australians send the wrong signals and increase security risks, it said. A spokesperson said the Canadian armed forces do not comment on sail plans for currently deployed ships. The spokesperson said the Ville de Quebec is deployed as part of Operation Horizon, meant to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
"Ville de Quebec was operating in the Philippine economic zone earlier this week, participating in freedom of navigation exercises, according to a Canadian government statement. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Australian armed forces. Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement that it keeps a close watch on activity in the strait and dispatches appropriate air and naval forces to ensure the security and stability of the waterway, which separates communist China from the democratic island of Taiwan."
Chinese military forces followed and warned the Australian guided-missile destroyer Brisbane and the Canadian frigate Ville de Quebec during a transit of the Taiwan Strait, labeling the passage trouble-making and a provocation. The PLA's Eastern Theatre Command said the actions increase security risks and send the wrong signals. Canada said the Ville de Quebec is deployed under Operation Horizon to promote peace and stability and noted the ship took part in freedom of navigation exercises in the Philippine economic zone. Taiwan's defence ministry monitors the strait closely and dispatches air and naval assets to maintain security and stability. The US and allied navies transit the strait regularly as an international waterway, while China claims it as territorial and has intensified military pressure and exercises near Taiwan in recent years.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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