Canadian warship hype sends wrong signal to Taiwan separatists, ministry says

The Canadian warship's disruption in the Taiwan Strait sends the wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and seriously undermines peace and stability in the region, China's Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

A Canadian warship, HMCS Montreal, passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday and the act was sensationalized by the Canadian side, according to the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the defense ministry, said the PLA Eastern Theater Command has responded to the Canadian warship's transit through the Taiwan Strait and the related hype.

"China has lodged a stern representation with Canada through military diplomatic channels," Zhang told the press.

The disruption seriously undermines the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, he said.

Canada's high-profile hype of its wrong actions to gain "presence" and finding excuses to mislead public opinion is a grave mistake, Zhang said.

"The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and does not tolerate any foreign interference," he said, urging Canada to adhere to the one-China principle and avoid affecting the development of the military relationship between China and Canada.