Recent months have seen a dramatic surge in tensions across the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing reacting strongly to the passage of Canadian and Australian warships through what it considers its sovereign waters. These developments spotlight the growing friction between a rising China and allies defending international norms.
What Happened?
On September 6–7, 2025, the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane sailed through the Taiwan Strait, conducting a joint Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in alignment with international maritime law
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. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed close surveillance of the transit, deploying forces to ensure stability
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China’s Response: Fury and Accusation
Beijing condemned the operation as a provocation, with the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command stating that the ships sent the “wrong signals” and heightened regional security risks
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spacewar.com
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. State media and military officials claimed they monitored both vessels with naval and air forces, while asserting China’s readiness to safeguard its sovereignty
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Why It Matters
International Waters vs. Sovereignty Claims
Western allies like Canada and Australia interpret the Taiwan Strait as international waters, promoting freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In contrast, China lays sovereignty claims over the area and sees such transits as a challenge to its territorial integrity
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Strategic Signaling
The presence of Canadian and Australian warships serves as a geopolitical signal: Western partners, led by the United States, are increasingly pushing back against Beijing’s military expansion and asserting support for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”
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Escalating Military Posturing
China’s rising military activity in the Taiwan Strait—frequent air and naval patrols and large-scale drills—underscores its determination to deter perceived interference
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The Regional Stakes
Democratic nations like Canada and Australia are showing they will not be deterred by China’s warnings, instead ramping up cooperation and operations. These actions reaffirm commitment to international maritime norms and aim to deter unilateral changes to the status quo near Taiwan and beyond
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Final Thought
With the Taiwan Strait becoming a focal point of strategic competition, actions by Canada and Australia mark a clear message: navigational freedom and international law remain paramount, even in the face of China’s growing military assertiveness.
The region now watches closely—especially as future transits could determine whether this simmering crisis escalates or holds as a high-stakes test of diplomatic and military resolve.