China has denounced the passage of Canadian and Australian naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, calling it a deliberate provocation that endangers regional security. The People’s Liberation Army said its forces tracked and warned the ships during their transit, according to Reuters.

Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed it monitored the movement and deployed assets to maintain stability.

Beijing insists the strait falls under its jurisdiction, while Taiwan and its allies, including US., regard it as international waters and stress freedom of navigation.

The incident comes amid growing Chinese military pressure on Taiwan, marked by frequent drills around the island. Ottawa and Canberra have yet to respond to Beijing’s criticism, Reuters reported.