"The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon observed the People's Liberation Army Navy's Luyang III-class frigate 132 conducting an unsafe maneuver while transiting the Taiwan Strait with the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal on June 3," the US Navy said today when releasing video of the incident.

Luyang III is the NATO reporting name for the Type-052D class guided-missile destroyer, one of China's most modern surface ships today. Warship number 132 is the Suzhou destroyer, commissioned into the East Sea Fleet in 2021.

The video, taken from a balcony next to the USS Chung-Hoon's bridge, shows the Chinese warship moving from the left and crossing the path of the US destroyer. The USS Chung-Hoon crew then appears to be making a radio announcement, warning the Chinese side not to "attempt to restrict the freedom of navigation" of the US warship.

The US Department of Defense said the closest distance between the two warships in the incident was about 140 meters.

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Captain Paul Mountford, captain of HMCS Montreal, earlier described the Chinese warship's actions as "unprofessional".

Upon noticing the Chinese ship changing course, the crew of HMCS Montreal contacted the US ship and asked them to maneuver to avoid a collision. The US warship responded by asking the Chinese ship to stay away, but USS Chung-Hoon still had to change course and reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The Chung-Hoon and Montreal operated together for nearly a week in the South China Sea before passing through the Taiwan Strait. Global News reported seeing Chinese warships shadowing the formation several times during the journey.

Colonel Mountford said the Chinese navy had warned the Canadian and US ships by radio that they were entering its territorial waters, despite the joint patrol being in internationally recognised waters. "I hope it doesn't happen again because we have international law on our side. These are international waters," he said.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada confirmed that the Chinese navy and air force monitored and supervised the USS Chung-Hoon and HMCS Montreal "in a legal and professional manner."

"Relevant countries have deliberately stirred up trouble and risks in the Taiwan Strait, maliciously undermining regional peace and stability," said Jianwei Li, deputy director of the Chinese Embassy's press and culture department, stressing that Beijing will take all necessary measures to "resolutely respond to any threats and provocations."

China has always considered Taiwan a province awaiting reunification and has declared its readiness to use force if necessary. The US has pledged to respect the "One China" principle but continues to maintain relations with Taiwan, and regularly sends warships and military aircraft through the strait.

Beijing has long claimed that the Taiwan Strait is not “international waters” but part of its exclusive economic zone, arguing that foreign military assets are restricted from operating in the area. China has repeatedly protested against the US sending forces through the strait, but has not taken any measures to prevent it on the ground.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )