China said Thursday its troops were "on constant high alert" after US and Canadian warships passed through the Taiwan Strait, their second joint passage in two months.
The USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa conducted a "routine" transit through the strait on Wednesday, the US Navy said.
"Troops in the theatre remain on constant high alert, and will resolutely protect national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability," Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Command, said in a statement.
Shi slammed the latest transit as a "public hype" and said its naval and air forces had "trailed their entire course."
The ships' passage comes after two warships belonging to the US and Canada sailed through the narrow waterway separating the island and mainland China on September 9.
The United States and its Western allies have increased "freedom of navigation" crossings by naval vessels both of the Taiwan Strait and the disputed South China Sea, to reinforce that both are international waterways, angering Beijing.
The Seventh Fleet said in a statement the transit had been made in accordance with international law and "through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State".
"Cooperation like this represents the centrepiece of our approach to a secure and prosperous region where aircraft and ships of all nations may fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."
Taiwan's defence ministry said Thursday it was monitoring the passage on Wednesday night, but added that "the situation was normal".
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, has stepped up military and political pressure on the self-ruled island as relations have plunged in recent years.
In September, China sent in 103 planes around Taiwan within a 24-hour period, which Taipei described as "a recent high".
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Objectives:
The objective of this text is to explain the recent joint passage of US and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait and the reaction of China. Current
State-of-the-Art and Limitations:
The US and Canadian warships recently conducted a “routine” transit through the strait, which China reacted to with a statement from Senior Colonel Shi Yi that troops in the theatre remain on constant high alert. What is New in the Approach:
The US and Canadian warships are increasing “freedom of navigation” crossings by naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea to reinforce that both are international waterways, which is causing anger in Beijing. Target Audience and Impact:
The target audience of this text are people interested in international relations and the impact of this event is the increased tension between the US and China. Risks:
The risks involved in this approach are the potential for military conflict between the US and China.
Cost:
The cost of pursuing this approach is unknown.
Timeline:
The timeline for achieving results is unclear.
Success Metrics:
The mid-term and final success metrics for this approach are unclear.
Score for Ability to Interest DARPA: 0/10
