Defence Minister Anita Anand makes a keynote address at the CANSEC trade show, billed as North America’s largest multi-service defence event, in Ottawa, on May 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA – Defence Minister Anita Anand says Beijing acted irresponsibly on the weekend in the Taiwan Strait, where Washington says a Chinese warship forced a U.S. vessel to avoid a collision.
The Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal was present when, Washington says, a Chinese vessel overtook an American destroyer, veering across its bow at a distance of 137 metres.
The Chinese ship did not attempt a similar manoeuvre on the Canadian frigate, which was behind the American destroyer.
In a statement, Anand says “China must behave responsibly” and that the joint sailthrough was part of Canadian and American efforts to uphold global rules that recognize the area as international waters.
China claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its own territory, and maintains the strait is part of its exclusive economic zone.
In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry says it follows the law and accuses Washington of creating unsafe conditions.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.
– With files from The Associated Press
