A Royal Australian Navy vessel made its way through the contested Taiwan Strait over the weekend, according to government officials, with Chinese military forces closely monitoring the ship’s movement through the strategically important waterway.
The frigate Toowoomba, part of Australia’s Anzac-class fleet, completed what officials described as a standard passage through the strait on Friday and Saturday. This transit occurred as part of the vessel’s broader mission in the Indo-Pacific region, a government source confirmed on Sunday.
Beijing considers the narrow waterway between mainland China and Taiwan to be part of its territorial waters, along with asserting control over the democratically-run island of Taiwan itself. Chinese authorities have frequently reacted with hostility when foreign naval vessels navigate through these disputed waters.
According to the Australian source, “conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait” during its “Regional Presence Deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.” The official added that “All interactions with foreign ships and aircraft were safe and professional.”
Chinese state media reported that military forces maintained constant surveillance of the Australian vessel throughout its passage. The Global Times, citing a Chinese military official, stated that “the Chinese People’s Liberation Army carried out full-process tracking, monitoring, and alert operations throughout the transit.”
American naval vessels regularly navigate through the strait several times each year, consistently drawing angry responses from Beijing. Other allied nations including France, Australia, Britain and Canada have also periodically sent ships through the waterway.
China has significantly increased its military activities in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, most recently conducting military exercises near the island in late December.
Taiwan’s leadership continues to reject China’s territorial claims, maintaining that only the Taiwanese people have the authority to determine the island’s political future.
