On Sunday, China’s Defense Minister General said that in the name of so-called “freedom of navigation” in the Taiwan Strait, one of its warships came into the way of a US destroyer and a Canadian frigate. Such patrolling is a provocation for Beijing.
In his first international address since taking over as defence minister in March, Shangfu told the world’s top defence officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that China has no problem with ships passing without any ill will, but ‘ “We have to stop attempts to use such freedom of navigation (patrol).”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in the same conversation on Saturday that Washington “will not bow to China’s bullying or coercion” and that its ships will regularly pass through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, and its aircraft will fly regularly. To emphasize the fact that the area is an international territorial waters. Significantly, a Chinese warship chased a US-guided missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate passing between the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
China asserts its claim on this self-governing island. Shangfu claimed that the US and its allies posed a threat in the Taiwan Strait when instead, they should “take good care of their airspace and waters.” He said through an interpreter, What is the point of coming there? In China, we always say, mind your business.
