The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said the Canadian frigate Ville de Quebec and the Australian guided-missile destroyer Brisbane were engaged in “trouble-making and provocation”.
“The actions of the Canadians and Australians send the wrong signals and increase security risks,” it said.
An Australia Defence Department spokesperson said on Sunday that the Royal Australian Navy Hobart Class destroyer HMAS Brisbane conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait from September 6 to 7 “in accordance with international law.”
“The transit was conducted along with Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville de Québec,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Australian vessels and aircraft will continue to exercise freedom of navigation and uphold International Law, particularly United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the spokesperson added.
