The Chinese Ministry of Defense stated yesterday, Friday, that China has lodged complaints with Canada through military and diplomatic channels after a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry continued in its statement that this act “caused disruption and sparked unrest.”

The ministry's spokesperson, Zhang Xiao Gang, said, “We warn Canada of the necessity to adhere to the One China principle and to be cautious in its words and actions regarding the Taiwan issue.”

The frigate passed through the Taiwan Strait, which Ottawa described as a commitment to the open Indo-Pacific region, prompting criticism from China that the naval exercises conducted on July 31 undermined peace.

The Canadian Department of National Defense stated that the HMCS Montreal “recently conducted a routine transit” through the strait, which Defense Minister Bill Blair characterized as a reaffirmation of Canada's commitment to a “free, open, and inclusive” Indo-Pacific region.

Blair said, “As outlined in our Indo-Pacific strategy, Canada is increasing the presence of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region,” referring to Canada's plan for the region announced in 2022.

Li Shi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army, stated that the passage of the Canadian frigate “disturbed the situation, disrupted it, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

He added that Chinese forces are on high alert at all times and are “ready to respond to all threats and provocations.”

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which is governed democratically, and states that it has jurisdiction over the waterway that is approximately 180 kilometers wide and separates the two sides.