The Chinese Armed Forces shadow Australian and Canadian naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and charges them with ‘provocative’ behavior, according to reports from the Australian military.

Australian and Canadian warships encountered China’s military while navigating through the Taiwan Strait, a sensitive area. China’s People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command accused the destroyers of engaging in “trouble-making and provocation”. The military stated that the actions of the Australians and Canadians were sending the wrong signals and increasing security risks. The Canadian armed forces did not comment on their sailing plans, but confirmed that the Ville de Quebec was part of Operation Horizon, which aims to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The ship was earlier involved in freedom of navigation exercises in the Philippine economic zone. Taiwan’s defense ministry assured that they keep close watch on the activity in the strait and deploy appropriate air and naval forces to secure the area. The US Navy and ships from allied countries, including Canada, Britain, and France, navigate the strait, which is considered an international waterway by Taiwan. However, China views the strategic waterway as part of its territorial waters, and has increased its military pressure on Taiwan over the past five years.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/07/chinas-military-follows-australian-and-canadian-warships-in-taiwan-strait-accusing-them-of-provocation