On Sunday, a U.S. warship and a Canadian one sailed together through the Taiwan Strait less than a fortnight after China held a series of new war games on the island. Beijing had denounced the mission as "disruptive".

Once a month, the U.S. Navy, sometimes accompanied by ships of allied nations, transits this strait. China, who claims Taiwan as part of its territory, also claims the strategic waterway.

7th Fleet, U.S. Navy said Monday that the destroyer USS Higgins made a routine transit through waters on Sunday where freedom of navigation at sea and overflight are applicable in accordance to international law.

In a press release, the statement said that the transit showed how committed both Canada and the United States are to preserving freedom of navigation in all countries.

The rights and freedoms of the international community to navigate in the Taiwan Strait shouldn't be restricted. It said that the United States "rejects any claim of sovereignty or jurisdiction which is incompatible with freedoms of overflights, navigations and other lawful use of the sea and sky."

China's Eastern Theatre Command has said that its forces have monitored and warned ships.

It added: "The actions of Canada and the United States have caused problems and disrupted peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

China held war games on Monday, which it claimed were an alert against "separatist actions" and that drew criticism from both the Taiwanese government and the U.S. government.

Last year, the U.S. Navy and Canadian Navy conducted a similar joint mission.

China claims to be the only country with jurisdiction over this waterway, which is nearly 180km wide (110 miles). It is an important passageway for international commerce. Taiwan and the United States disagree, claiming that the Taiwan Strait was an international waterway.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, saying that only the island’s people can decide its future.

(source: Reuters)