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.

  • joshuanozzi@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    41
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Asserting the fact that China has no legitimate claim just because they suddenly say they do. They’re relying on threat (like bullies) and the big players on the playground aren’t having it. By ignoring the illegitimate claim, they’re showing the world that China will not be allowed to bully. Say what you will about the US (and you’d probably be right), but the US Navy is not one you want to fuck with, which is why they chaperoned the transit.