米・カナダの艦艇が台湾海峡を通過

【台北ＡＦＰ＝時事】米軍とカナダ軍の艦艇が２０日、台湾海峡を通過したことが分かった。１週間前には中国が台湾周辺で大規模な軍事演習を行ったばかり。（写真は、台湾海峡を通過する米海軍のアーレイ・バーク級ミサイル駆逐艦ヒギンズ〈手前〉とカナダ海軍のハリファックス級フリゲート艦バンクーバー〈右奥〉。米海軍提供）
　米海軍第７艦隊は、「アーレイ・バーク級ミサイル駆逐艦ヒギンズとカナダ海軍のハリファックス級フリゲート艦バンクーバーが２０日、通常通り台湾海峡を通過した」と発表した。
　「ヒギンズとバンクーバーの台湾海峡通過は、原則としてすべての国の航行の自由を保障することに向けた米国とカナダのコミットメントを示すものだ」としている。
　これに対し中国は２１日、米加両国の行動が「台湾海峡の平和と安定を乱した」と非難。中国人民解放軍（ＰＬＡ）の広報官は、「中国人民解放軍東部戦区司令部は、（米加の艦艇が）通過する間、監視と警戒を行うため海軍と空軍の部隊を組織し、法規制にのっとって事案に対処した」と述べた。
　ＡＦＰは台湾の国防部（国防省）と外交部（外務省）にコメントを求めたが、これまでに返答は得られていない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/10/21-17:03）

A US and a Canadian warship have passed through waters separating Taiwan and China, a week after Beijing held large-scale military drills in the sensitive passage.
The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.
China's Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the island as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct. 20, the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement.
Higgins and Vancouver's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States' and Canada's commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle.
China said Monday that the US and Canadian actions had disrupted peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command organised naval and air forces to monitor and remain on alert throughout the transit, handling the situation according to laws and regulations, military spokesperson Captain Li Xi said in a statement.
Taiwan's defence ministry said Monday the US and Canadian ships travelled from south to north of the strait and the situation in the surrounding sea and airspace remained normal.
Beijing sent a record number of military aircraft as well as warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan on October 14 in the fourth round of major drills in just over two years.
Taiwan deployed appropriate forces and put outlying islands on heightened alert in response to the exercises, which Beijing said were a stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan Independence' forces.
Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taipei in recent years, deploying on a near-daily basis warplanes and other military aircraft as well as ships around the island.
Taiwan's defence ministry said Monday it had detected 14 Chinese military aircraft and 12 navy vessels in the 24 hours to 6:00 am.