Navigating Tensions: U.S. and Canada Assert Freedom in Taiwan Strait

A U.S. and Canadian warship's passage through the Taiwan Strait has reignited tensions, following China's military exercises near Taiwan. The transit, viewed by the allies as a routine freedom of navigation exercise, was denounced by China as disruptive to regional peace, highlighting ongoing sovereignty disputes.

In a significant geopolitical maneuver, U.S. and Canadian warships navigated the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, days after China conducted military drills around Taiwan. China criticized the operation as a threat to regional peace.

The U.S. Navy, sometimes joined by allies, regularly transits the strait, asserting the freedom of navigation according to international law. The recent exercise involved the destroyer USS Higgins and Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver.

China's Eastern Theatre Command condemned the passage, accusing the two nations of provoking instability. The U.S., however, rejects sovereign claims undermining navigational freedoms, as Taiwan monitors the situation closely.

(With inputs from agencies.)