ISTANBUL 

China said on Friday that its navy and air force were deployed "to track and monitor the transit" of US and UK warships passing through the Taiwan Strait.

"The Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command sent its navy and air force troops to track and monitor the transit of the two vessels, effectively responding and handling the situation," said Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi in a statement released by the Defense Ministry.

"The actions of the US and the UK have sent out wrong signals and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Chinese troops are "on high alert at all times and are ready to resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability," the statement added.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday that the transit was part of Carrier Strike Group 25.

The UK Navy follows international laws and norms, including freedom of navigation rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Devdiscourse digital news reported, citing the statement.

The US had not responded as of the time this report was published.

Last Saturday, China also deployed naval and air forces after detecting Canadian and Australian warships transiting the Taiwan Strait.

"The actions of Canada and Australia sent wrong signals and heightened security risks," Beijing had said.