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.

        • joshuanozzi@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          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.

          • SolidGrue@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            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

            • joshuanozzi@lemmy.ml
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              1 year ago

              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.

    • Wakmrow@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m genuinely curious what you think the US and Canada are doing by sailing warships through another country’s claimed waters?

      • joshuanozzi@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        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.

      • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
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        1 year ago

        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…”

        • Wakmrow@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yes so deliberately being antagonistic to prove the point claiming it’s international waters?

          • severien@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Of course it’s necessary to be antagonistic towards breaking international agreements.