The Chinese military has announced a major 'joint combat readiness patrol' in the contentious Taiwan Strait, a move deliberately timed to coincide with the transit of a US and Canadian warship through the region.
The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command confirmed the deployment of its forces on Saturday, stating the operation was a necessary response to what it called 'deliberate provocations and sabotage' from external forces. The announcement did not explicitly name the United States or Canada but left little doubt as to the intended target of the show of force.
A Direct Response to Naval Transit
The patrol is a direct reaction to the passage of the USS Ralph Johnson, a US guided-missile destroyer, and the Canadian Royal Navy's HMCS Ottawa through the strategic waterway that separates mainland China from the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Beijing views such voyages as severe challenges to its sovereignty and blatant support for what it considers a breakaway province.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, stated that the patrol was aimed at addressing 'the collusion and provocations of foreign countries'. The command's forces are reportedly on high alert to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Eternal Fujian Province
In a further assertion of its claims, the Chinese military's statement referred to Taiwan as 'China's Fujian Province', a designation that completely dismisses the island's independently governed status. This linguistic framing is a core part of Beijing's long-standing strategy to reinforce its territorial ambitions over Taiwan.
The Eastern Theatre Command, responsible for operations in the Taiwan Strait, has been increasingly active, with such patrols becoming a frequent response to perceived foreign interference. This latest manoeuvre underscores the dangerously escalating tensions in one of the world's most critical geopolitical flashpoints.
