Five Eyes allies boost Taiwan Strait transitsboost Taiwan Strait transits
Australia, Canada, Britain and New Zealand increased naval transits through the Taiwan Strait in 2025, according to a report cited on Tuesday. The report says the four remaining Five Eyes allies sent six warships on five passages, while the United States took a different approach.
The moves matter because they signal continued pressure around one of Asia’s most sensitive waterways and underline competing views of freedom of navigation in the region.
Five Eyes allies
The allies present the transits as routine operations meant to show support for freedom of navigation and stability in the Taiwan Strait. By pairing the passages with public statements, they also signal that the deployments are intentional and politically visible.
United States
Washington appears to be using a different mix of military signaling and diplomacy than some of its allies. That suggests the US is balancing deterrence, alliance coordination and broader regional risk management.
China
Beijing is likely to view the transits as external interference in a sensitive sovereignty issue. Chinese officials typically argue that foreign naval activity in the strait raises tensions and challenges China’s claims.
- The Taiwan Strait has been a flashpoint since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949.
- New Zealand is the only Five Eyes member without a large blue-water navy.
- Publicly announcing naval transits can be as important as the passage itself.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
