TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Monday (Oct. 21) emphasized the significance of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, aligning with both national and Indo-Pacific regional interests.
Lin's remarks came during a session of the Foreign and National Defense Committee (外交及國防委員會), during which he expressed gratitude to like-minded countries for their commitment to peace and stability in the region.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) reported that one U.S. and one Canadian warship transited the Taiwan Strait from south to north on Sunday, with the Taiwanese military maintaining full situational awareness. MND noted that the passage proceeded without incident.
Lin highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation for the Group of Seven (G7) and first island chain nations, reinforcing its alignment with shared regional interests.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) inquired about Taiwan's awareness of freedom of navigation exercises by democratic allies.
Lin assured me that relevant intelligence was always available, though he refrained from commenting on specific cases.