China’s military said it tracked Australian and Canadian warships that passed through the Taiwan Strait over the weekend, calling the transit "provocative actions," while Australia said the movement was a routine, lawful passage.
The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement that its naval and air forces monitored the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Brisbane and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville de Québec as they transited the strait on Sept. 6–7. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a PLA spokesperson, said the presence of the two vessels "made provocative actions" and that Chinese troops would remain on high alert.
An Australian Defence spokesperson said HMAS Brisbane "conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait over 6–7 September 2025, in accordance with international law" and that the ship sailed alongside HMCS Ville de Québec. The statement said the destroyer is on a four-month Regional Presence Deployment to the Indo-Pacific and that "Australian vessels and aircraft will continue to exercise freedom of navigation and uphold international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." A Canadian armed forces spokesperson declined to comment, saying they do not discuss deployment details of active ships.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said it monitored activity in the strait and dispatched "appropriate air and naval forces to ensure the security and stability" of the waterway, according to Taiwan media reports. Taiwan regards the Taiwan Strait as part of international waters and routinely urges that freedom of navigation be maintained. Beijing asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and regards the strait as falling within its territorial jurisdiction, a position rejected by Taiwan’s government and not recognised by most foreign states.
The PLA's statement described the tracking as an effective response to what it called escalatory conduct by foreign warships. Senior Colonel Shi criticized Canada and Australia for "sending out wrong signals and heightening security risks," and said Chinese forces handled the situation appropriately. The Australian Defence spokesperson maintained the transit followed international law.
The passage comes amid heightened regional tensions and an uptick in Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacific. In recent months, Beijing has increased naval patrols and exercises, including a two-week period earlier this year during which Chinese vessels were observed operating near Australia and conducting a live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea. China also registered 26 new coastguard vessels for Pacific operations and in 2024 conducted what it described as an intercontinental ballistic missile test in the Pacific, its first publicly noted ICBM trial in the region since 1980.
The incident also follows a high-profile display of Chinese military capability in Beijing. Last week, President Xi Jinping presided over a large military parade in Tiananmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II that involved thousands of troops and a range of weaponry, including long-range missiles and advanced aircraft. State media reported about 10,000 personnel participated. The parade and Mr. Xi’s remarks, in which he said China would "never be intimidated by bullies," were widely covered in regional capitals and followed by diplomatic interest from several former and current foreign officials.
Two former Australian state premiers attended the Beijing events. Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he attended in a personal capacity and defended engagement with China on economic and diplomatic grounds, while former New South Wales premier and foreign minister Bob Carr declined to attend the parade and met Chinese diplomats instead.
Australia and Canada are among a number of countries that conduct transits through the Taiwan Strait, citing routine freedom of navigation operations. Such passages are generally carried out without prior coordination with Beijing and often prompt responses from the PLA, which regularly deploys ships and aircraft to shadow or monitor foreign vessels.
Analysts note the strait remains a flashpoint in broader strategic competition in the region. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a framework for maritime rights and freedoms, but competing sovereignty claims and differing interpretations of territorial waters complicate enforcement and raise the likelihood of close encounters at sea.
Australian Defence said its ships and aircraft will continue to uphold international law. The PLA said it will remain vigilant in areas it considers sensitive. Both Canberra and Beijing have sought to manage bilateral ties amid economic interdependence and growing strategic rivalry, and incidents at sea are likely to remain a recurring element of that relationship.
No injuries or damage were reported in connection with the transit, and there was no immediate indication of further escalation following the weekend encounter. Military and diplomatic channels in the region typically record such transits and monitoring activities, and officials in Canberra, Ottawa and Taipei said they would continue routine reporting and situational awareness in accordance with established procedures.