BEIJING, Aug. 2 -- "Canada's making high-sounding excuses to mislead the public opiniononly adds to its mistakes," said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang on Friday.
He made those remarks when asked to comment on the Canadian naval frigate HMCS Montréal's sailing through the Taiwan Strait on July 31 and Canadian defense minister's remarks on the reaffirmation of its commitment to a "free, open, and inclusive" Indo-Pacific.
According to the spokesperson, the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command has responded to the Canadian naval frigate HMCS Montréal's sailing through the Taiwan Strait and hyping up the situation. China has made solemn representations to the Canadian side through military diplomatic channels.
"Through making troubles and stirring up the situation in the Taiwan Strait, the Canadian warship is sending wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatists, and seriously undermining the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," slammed the spokesperson.
The spokesperson pointed out that Canada's wantonly hyping up its wrongdoings to seek attention, and even making high-sounding excuses to mislead the public opinion, only add to its mistakes.
He reaffirmed that Taiwan question is China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. "We warn the Canadian side to abide by the one-China principle, carefully watch its words and deeds on the Taiwan question, and avoid affecting the development of relations between the two countries and their militaries," he added.