US, Canada ships cross Taiwan Strait, China on ‘constant high alert’
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Beijing: China on Thursday said it has put troops ‘on constant high alert’ after US and Canadian warships conducted what the US Navy said ‘routine’ passage through the Taiwan Strait.
The second passage of ships on Wednesday in two months involved The USS Rafael Peralta and the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa, according to news agency AFP.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Command said the ‘Troops in the theatre remain on constant high alert, and will resolutely protect national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.’
Terming the passage a ‘public hype’, Shi said Chinese naval and air forces had ‘trailed their entire course’.
Another passage on September 9 saw the ships of US and Canada passing through the water way that separates China and the Island.
The increased passage through South China Sea and Taiwan Strait is part of the United States and its Western allies’ move to ‘reinforce that both are international waterways’.
This passage has angered Beijing, which could worsen the situation further.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's defence ministry said that ‘the situation was normal’, adding that it was monitoring the passage on Wednesday night.