US and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday after President Joe Biden said over the weekend that the US would defend Taiwan if attacked by China.   

  A US Navy ship, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, made a “routine transit through the Taiwan Strait” on Tuesday, US Navy spokesman Lt. Mark Langford said.   

  The US ship made the crossing “in cooperation with the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver,” Langford said.   

  The two ships “passed through a corridor in the straits that is beyond the territorial waters of any coastal state,” Lt. Langford said.  The crossing “demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Lt. Langford added.   

  Tuesday’s crossing marked the second time in just over three weeks that a US Navy warship has made the trip.  The guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville did so on August 28.   

  Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in early August, the US has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese military ships and submarines around Taiwan, a US defense official told CNN.   

  Although the U.S. called the transit “routine,” it comes after Biden fueled tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan by telling CBS’ “60 Minutes” that he would use U.S. troops to defend the island if China tried to invade.   

  The strait is a 110-mile (180 km) stretch of water that separates the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan from mainland China.   

  Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan – an island of 23 million people – despite the fact that China’s ruling Communist Party has never controlled it.  Beijing also claims sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters of the Taiwan Strait under Chinese law and its interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).   

  The US Navy, however, says most of the strait is in international waters, citing the UNCLOS definition of territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from a country’s coastline.  The US regularly sends its warships through the strait, making dozens of such crossings in recent years.   

  In the CBS interview, Biden was asked if “US forces, US men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.”   

  “Yes,” the US President replied.   

  The comments reiterate a pledge to defend Taiwan that Biden had previously made, although on Sunday he clarified that “American men and women” would join the effort.   

  Canadian Defense Department media relations chief Daniel Le Bouthillier confirmed Canada was participating in the crossing on Tuesday.   

  “After port visits to Jakarta, Indonesia and Manila, Philippines, HMCS Vancouver sailed through the Taiwan Strait alongside USS Higgins as this was the most direct navigation route.  This sail was made in full compliance with international law, including navigational rights on the high seas as outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Le Bouthillier told CNN.   

  Chinese aircraft and ships were present through “various parts” of the US-Canadian transit, the US military confirmed, but “all interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were in accordance with international standards and practices and did not affect the operation ».  Langford said.   

  Beijing quickly condemned Biden’s comments over the weekend and reiterated its warning that China retains the “option to take all necessary measures” to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.   

  “The US remarks seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three US-China joint communiques.  It is also a serious violation of the important commitment made by the US side not to support Taiwan independence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a briefing on Monday.   

  “It sent a seriously wrong message to Taiwan independence separatist forces.  China expresses its strong displeasure and strong opposition, and has made serious statements to the US side,” Mao added.   

  US and Canadian warships last passed through the strait at the same time 11 months ago, when the destroyer USS Dewey and the frigate HMCS Winnipeg made the trip.   

  After this crossing, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Command of the People’s Liberation Army, said in a written statement that “the US and Canada made provocations of a despicable nature and caused riots, which seriously endangered peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits’.   

  Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “reunification” between China and Taiwan was inevitable and refused to rule out the use of force.  Tensions between Beijing and Taipei are at their highest level in decades, with the Chinese military conducting major military exercises near the island.