1y ago

China claims ownership of the Taiwan Strait. Canada just sailed a warship through it

www.cbc.ca /news/world/canada-taiwan-strait-ownership-1.6961816

After months of secretive planning, and preparing the crew to defend their ship if necessary, the Royal Canadian Navy has transited the Taiwan Strait.

As HMCS Ottawa entered the busy and strategically critical body of water at sunrise, it was flanked by three Chinese warships armed with missiles and torpedoes. They mirrored Ottawa's moves for the entire 17-hour crossing.

Canada made the journey along with the USS Ralph Johnson, a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, in what both countries describe as a freedom of navigation exercise.

Canada @lemmy.ca

China claims ownership of the Taiwan Strait. Canada just sailed a warship through it

www.cbc.ca /news/world/canada-taiwan-strait-ownership-1.6961816

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China claims the ENTIRE SOUTH CHINA SEA. Imagine the US claims the entire Pacific ocean.
- I wouldn’t put it past us.
  
  Realistically tho, does the US not?
  
  I mean … no? We do have a good track record of defending everyone’s right to transit international waters. There’re maps of the US claims to how far off our coast we claim. It’s not out of the ordinary as far as I know.
  But our attitude? Yeah, with the “right” elected leaders, I could see that changing.
  
  Ah, yeah. That was more my thrust... The attitude about enforcing open transit, because of course that's what the US will do.
  e: dumb typos
  
  Understood. Yeah, we’re assholes about plenty of things, but we do defend the world’s right to open transit. China is trying to grab power in international trade by theft. The answer is no.
  
  No they don’t. Jesus Christ.
- I'm genuinely curious what you think the US and Canada are doing by sailing warships through another country's claimed waters?
  
  Asserting the fact that China has no legitimate claim just because they suddenly say they do. They’re relying on threat (like bullies) and the big players on the playground aren’t having it. By ignoring the illegitimate claim, they’re showing the world that China will not be allowed to bully. Say what you will about the US (and you’d probably be right), but the US Navy is not one you want to fuck with, which is why they chaperoned the transit.
  
  Trolling tankies
  
  Its a game of bluff. China can make all the claims it wants, but the waterway is traditionally open navigable waters, and rules are basically “do you want to start a war to stake your claim?” You can find many recordings online of western ships passing through the strait, and a constant back and forth of;
  “Turn back, you are in chinese waters.”
  “This is the USS Fillintheblank, we are in International Waters performing a freedom of navigation exercise.”
  “We order you to turn back now.”
  “This is the USS Fillintheblank, we are in…”
  
  Yes so deliberately being antagonistic to prove the point claiming it's international waters?
  
  Of course it's necessary to be antagonistic towards breaking international agreements.
  
  They are exercising their right to sail through international waters.
  
  China just claimed your toilet water as its own, what are you gonna do about it?
  
  Drop a massive stinker and refuse to flush
  
  Oh yeah? Is your curiosity genuine? Really?

57 comments