China opposes any country using freedom of navigation to undermine its sovereignty

BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) – China said on Friday it firmly opposes any attempt by any country to undermine its sovereignty and security “under the pretext of freedom of navigation” in response to a Canadian warship passing through the Taiwan Strait.

HMCS Charlottetown made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on May 22, which was completed on May 23, Canada’s Department of National Defense told Reuters on Friday.

China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan and the strategic Taiwan Strait, although Taipei denies the claims.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning added that China respects all countries’ navigation rights under international law.

“The Taiwan Strait is an international waterway and all countries have the right to freedom of navigation,” Taiwan’s defense ministry told Reuters.

The ministry said it “closely follows relevant developments through joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mechanisms, but does not proactively disclose the movements of military ships from allied countries.”

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Liz Lee; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Ros Russell)