SUMMARY
- A Chinese warship came dangerously close to the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon during a joint Canada-U.S. mission through the Taiwan Strait.
- The Chinese vessel increased speed and cut in front of the American ship, a move criticized as "unprofessional" by the Canadian vessel's commander.
- The incident, considered a deliberate provocation by the Chinese, occurred in international waters, raising concerns over Beijing's aggressive military maneuvers.
A rare joint maritime operation involving Canadian and American forces navigating through the Taiwan Strait was put at risk as a Chinese warship dangerously cut in front of the American destroyer, USS Chung-Hoon. The incident, taking place a mere 150 yards away from a collision in the South China Sea, adds to Beijing's ongoing assertive military behavior in the region.
Global News, stationed aboard the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal participating in the mission since May 25, provided a firsthand account of the near miss from the ship's bridge wing. An unidentified People’s Liberation Navy ship markedly accelerated, slicing across the bow of the Chung-Hoon. This action was decried by the Montreal's commander, Capt. Paul Mountford, as "unprofessional."
According to Mountford, when the Chinese vessel veered, the crew sent an urgent warning to the American ship to divert its course or risk a collision. Despite the Chung-Hoon’s requests for the Chinese vessel to maintain a safe distance, it ultimately had to adjust its trajectory and reduce speed to prevent a catastrophic crash. Mountford asserted the incident was a deliberate provocation by the Chinese.
Mountford also remarked on the audacity of the Chinese announcing the confrontational move over the radio beforehand. Prior to entering the Taiwan Strait, the Chung-Hoon and Montreal had sailed the South China Sea together for almost a week, during which Global News noted multiple instances of Chinese warships tailing the Canadian vessel.
Although the Chinese did not repeat the dangerous maneuver with HMCS Montreal, one of their warships did approach within 1,000 yards, a distance Mountford considered safe. Despite the mission taking place in international waters, the Chinese warned the Canadian and American ships that they were infringing on Chinese territory. Mountford, defending their position, expressed his hope that international law would prevent such incidents in the future.
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