In a joint effort, the United States and Canada have recently dispatched warships to the Taiwan Strait to emphasize the island nation’s right to self-governance and freedom. This operation adhered to international regulations, and the United States has previously executed comparable actions in the same maritime region on multiple occasions. Nevertheless, China views this move as provocative and a potential source of conflict.
On November 1, the US 7th Fleet, comprising 20,000 Marines and support personnel, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class DDG 115 destroyer, conducted a routine transit through the strait alongside the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ottawa, a Halifax-class FFH 341 frigate. The Canadian Armed Forces Operations shared a similar message, highlighting their goal of fostering”peace, fortitude, and stability” in the region.
China perceives the operation in a significantly contrasting manner, asserting that American forces are provoking them. China has maintained its claim on Taiwan since 1949, and in response to the island nation’s efforts to assert its sovereignty, the larger foreign power has become progressively more assertive. Beijing has deployed multiple waves of fighter jets over the area, occasionally approaching Taiwan’s shores in a threatening manner.
According to a Newsweek article, Lieutenant General He Lei of the People’s Liberation Army expressed that the Chinese populace would back a military operation against Taiwan. He made this statement at the Shangri-La Dialogue event in Singapore, which occurred from October 29 to October 31. He asserted that such action would be deemed fair and lawful, framing it as a step towards merging.
China partially holds the United States responsible for the division, contending that Taiwan’s Western connections have eroded its control over the island. There are worries that a military confrontation between China and Taiwan could escalate into a conflict involving the United States, a major power in the region.
