The US made provocations first in the Taiwan Strait and China dealt with them in accordance with laws and regulations, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
(Video produced by Wang Yiting)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to a statement released by the US Indo-Pacific Command on Saturday, claiming that the Chinese warship "executed maneuvers in an unsafe manner."
"The spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command has already responded to this issue," Wang said.
In a written statement released on Saturday, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command slammed Canada and the US for sending ships into the Strait, saying the naval and air forces of the Command conducted tracking and monitoring of the two vessels, "handling the situation lawfully and professionally."
Wang said China was firmly opposed to the relevant countries creating troubles around the Taiwan Strait and resolutely defends "national sovereignty, security and regional peace and stability."
"I want to emphasize that the truth is that it was the US side that stirred up trouble and made provocations in the first place, then the Chinese side followed up by dealing with it in accordance with laws and regulations," he said. "China has always respected the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law, and the actions taken by the Chinese military are necessary to respond to the provocations of relevant countries and are completely reasonable and legal, safe and professional."
Cover image: Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Montreal sails along the US navy uided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon during a transit throught the Taiwan Strait. (Photo: US Pacific Fleet)