TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Canadian naval frigate HMCS Ottawa transited the Taiwan Strait on Sunday morning, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Canada for its concrete actions in supporting regional peace. This marks the sixth time a Canadian military vessel has passed through the Taiwan Strait since the country adopted its Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022.

The HMCS Ottawa, a Halifax-class frigate commissioned in 1998, is crewed by approximately 240 personnel. Based in Esquimalt, British Columbia, the ship was deployed to the Indo-Pacific in October 2024 as part of Operation Horizon, a multinational naval mission. It is expected to return to Canada in March.

In early February, the ship’s commander, Adriano Lozer, was replaced by Landon Creasy in a routine officer rotation to “ensure effective leadership,” per the Ottawa Citizen.

Canada has steadily increased its naval presence in the Taiwan Strait. The HMCS Montreal transited the strait on July 31, 2024, followed by the HMCS Vancouver in October. The HMCS Ottawa previously made the passage on Nov. 1, 2023, alongside the USS Rafael Peralta.

In July 2024, Canada announced plans to increase its naval transits through the Taiwan Strait, committing to at least three passages annually in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.