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.

記者：據報道，加拿大海軍“蒙特利爾”號護衛艦7月31日過航臺灣海峽。加國防部長隨后重申加方對實現“自由、開放、包容”印太地區的承諾。請問發言人有何評論？

張曉剛：東部戰區對加拿大“蒙特利爾”號護衛艦過航臺灣海峽并炒作事作了回應，中方已通過軍事外交渠道向加方提出嚴正交涉。加軍艦在臺灣海峽滋擾攪局，向“臺獨”分裂勢力釋放錯誤信號，嚴重危害臺海和平穩定。需要指出的是，加方高調炒作其錯誤行徑刷“存在感”，還堂而皇之找借口誤導輿論，更是錯上加錯。臺灣問題是中國內政，不容任何外來干涉。我們正告加方，應恪守一個中國原則，在臺灣問題上謹言慎行，避免影響兩國兩軍關系發展。