An Australian naval vessel completed a routine transit of the Taiwan Strait this week, a movement closely monitored by China’s military as tensions persist in the Indo-Pacific over freedom of navigation and regional security.

The Royal Australian Navy ship sailed through the narrow seaway that separates mainland China from Taiwan, a self-governing island whose political status Beijing continues to challenge.

According to Chinese state media reports, the People’s Liberation Army maintained surveillance of the Australian vessel throughout its passage, underscoring Beijing’s insistence that it closely track foreign naval activity in what it regards as sensitive waters.

The Taiwan Strait is claimed by China as part of its territorial waters, a position that is rejected by Canberra and other Western capitals that view the corridor as international waters open to lawful passage under international law.

The transit reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to uphold freedom of navigation alongside allied partners, who frequently conduct similar operations to demonstrate the principle that no single nation should control global sea lanes.

In recent months and years, allied warships from nations including the United States, Canada and European partners have made comparable transits, drawing periodic responses from China’s military and diplomatic officials.

Taipei’s defence authorities also monitor movements through the strait, deploying surveillance aircraft and naval assets to ensure security and stability across the waterway.

Canberra’s defence leadership has underscored that such transits are standard naval operations conducted in accordance with internationally recognised maritime law, affirming Australia’s role in maintaining open and secure sea lines of communication in the region.

The passage comes amid broader regional dynamics that include intensified Chinese military drills near Taiwan and increased coordination among Indo-Pacific democracies on maritime security cooperation.