TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- A Royal Canadian Navy frigate transited the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, marking Canada's first such passage this year through the waterway that separates self-ruled Taiwan from mainland China, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said.

The Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa passed through the strait as Taiwan's armed forces maintaining full control over the surrounding sea and airspace, according to its foreign and defense ministries.

The Foreign Ministry welcomed what it called Canada's "concrete actions to defend the freedom, peace and openness of the Taiwan Strait" and its firm stance that the strait is "international waters."

Recently, two U.S. Navy ships passed through the strait, triggering a protest from China, which claims the democratic island and has been increasing military pressure on it.