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.
记者：据报道，加拿大海军“蒙特利尔”号护卫舰7月31日过航台湾海峡。加国防部长随后重申加方对实现“自由、开放、包容”印太地区的承诺。请问发言人有何评论？
张晓刚：东部战区对加拿大“蒙特利尔”号护卫舰过航台湾海峡并炒作事作了回应，中方已通过军事外交渠道向加方提出严正交涉。加军舰在台湾海峡滋扰搅局，向“台独”分裂势力释放错误信号，严重危害台海和平稳定。需要指出的是，加方高调炒作其错误行径刷“存在感”，还堂而皇之找借口误导舆论，更是错上加错。台湾问题是中国内政，不容任何外来干涉。我们正告加方，应恪守一个中国原则，在台湾问题上谨言慎行，避免影响两国两军关系发展。
