MOFA thanks US, Canada for supporting cross-strait peace, stability

2024/10/23

The routine transit Oct. 20 of the Taiwan Strait by the U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins and Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS Vancouver is sincerely appreciated by the government and people of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Oct. 21.
 
In a statement on its official website, the U.S. 7th Fleet said the move demonstrated the commitment by the two sides to upholding the principle of freedom of navigation for all nations. The Canadian Joint Operations Command tweeted that the activities promoted peace, resilience and security in the Indo-Pacific.
 
The U.S. 7th Fleet said the freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas applied to their route in accordance with international law, and that the global community’s navigational rights and freedoms in the strait should not be limited. The statement concluded with a rejection of any assertion of sovereignty or jurisdiction that is inconsistent with freedoms of navigation, overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and air.
 
This marks the fourth joint transit of the two North American countries in the past two years and reflects the dedication of members of the free world to maintaining cross-strait peace, the MOFA said.
 
The government of Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities against authoritarian expansion while expanding cooperation with its like-minded partners to defend the rules-based international order and ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added.


Source:  Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)