After months of secretive planning, and preparing the crew to defend their ship if necessary, the Royal Canadian Navy has transited the Taiwan Strait.
As HMCS Ottawa entered the busy and strategically critical body of water at sunrise, it was flanked by three Chinese warships armed with missiles and torpedoes. They mirrored Ottawa’s moves for the entire 17-hour crossing.
Canada made the journey along with the USS Ralph Johnson, a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, in what both countries describe as a freedom of navigation exercise.
Its a game of bluff. China can make all the claims it wants, but the waterway is traditionally open navigable waters, and rules are basically “do you want to start a war to stake your claim?” You can find many recordings online of western ships passing through the strait, and a constant back and forth of;
“Turn back, you are in chinese waters.”
“This is the USS Fillintheblank, we are in International Waters performing a freedom of navigation exercise.”
“We order you to turn back now.”
“This is the USS Fillintheblank, we are in…”
Yes so deliberately being antagonistic to prove the point claiming it’s international waters?
Of course it’s necessary to be antagonistic towards breaking international agreements.