A Canadian warship has navigated the contested Taiwan Strait as part of a joint exercise with allied naval forces, an action that showcased its commitment to safeguarding the international status of the waterway in response to China’s territorial assertions. The Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate, HMCS Ottawa, transited the disputed waters alongside the USS Ralph Johnson, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, in what both parties have characterized as a freedom-of-navigation exercise, as reported by CBC News. During their 17-hour crossing on Sept. 6, the ships were closely shadowed by Chinese warships. “Moving through the Taiwan Strait is to demonstrate a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Sam Patchell, the commanding officer of the Canadian warship, told CBC News. “The only way we can do that is to come here and signal it.”...Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/canadian-navy-crosses-taiwan-strait-challenges-chinas-claim-5488855