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A Canadian warship transited the Taiwan Strait days before a high-stakes visit to Ottawa by the Chinese Foreign Minister, defying an earlier warning from Beijing to stay away from the disputed waterway, which China claims as its own.

The frigate HMCS Charlottetown made the trip last week, the Department of National Defence said Thursday. It did this without being accompanied by any allied countries’ ships.

“On May 22, 2026, HMCS Charlottetown conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait, which was completed on May 23, 2026,” spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said in a statement.

...

The Canadian warship transit took place just weeks after a warning delivered by Wang Di, China’s ambassador to Canada, in an interview with The Globe last month. The envoy said the new partnership between Canada and China would be harmed if Ottawa sends more military vessels through the Taiwan Strait or if Canadian parliamentarians keep travelling to Taiwan to meet with its government.

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Defence Minister David McGuinty said earlier this month that Ottawa considers the waterway between China and Taiwan to be international waters.

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Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong, who earlier this month travelled to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in defiance of the Chinese ambassador’s warning, welcomed the latest transit.

“I think the government had to signal that it wasn’t going to comply with Beijing’s unreasonable demand,” Mr. Chong said.

From 2018 until the resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau last year, Canadian warships transited the Taiwan Strait 11 times – over the objections of Beijing.

...

Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said Canada’s behaviour in the South China Sea and East China “was being watched closely,” in Asian capitals from Beijing to Tokyo to Taipei, as well as in Australia and the United States.

She said it’s a strong signal that Canada will plot its own course in the Indo-Pacific.

It’s the first time Canada has used the route since Mr. Carney’s visit to China in January and the announcement of the new strategic partnership with Beijing.

“It shows that Canada is committed to upholding international law and ensuring that international waterways, such as Taiwan Strait, are free for passage for all, including Canada,” Ms. Nadjibulla said.

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cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/shit/p/1158300/the-dude-who-convinced-women-that-bikinis-were-different-from-underwear-they-re-the-same

The former hedge fund titan is waging one of the most expensive gubernatorial campaigns in US history — on a platform the business community hates.

transcription: inside of me, there are two. cute uwu fembie, chaotic trans girl

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1158275/the-netherlands-just-blocked-a-us-company-from-buying-the-app-dutch-citizens-use-for-eve

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/shit/p/1158236/how-suicidal-men-look-at-suicidal-women-women-attempt-twice-as-much-but-men-succeed-thri

Mirror

Despite the rising body count off the South American coast, researchers say cocaine is as easy to get in many parts of the United States as it was before the strikes began.

It's almost like the point was to get paid by the cartels, not to stop drugs.

I don't expect something like this to be passed into law so long as Republicans hold a majority in Congress.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1158199/blue-origin-s-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launchpad-at-cape-canaveral

A Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test at the launch pad Thursday night, shaking nearby homes and briefly painting the sky orange.

Blue Origin said its New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test being conducted ahead of a satellite launch planned for next week. No one was hurt, according to officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

"It's hard to keep track! "

Initiated by: Brent Cameron from Godfrey, Ontario

Whereas:

The Alto high-speed rail project is estimated to cost approximately between $60 billion and $90 billion, or up to roughly $9,000 per Canadian family of four

The actual construction and emissions costs to build Alto are presently unknown, and will not be known until after disruptive and costly steps have occurred, including expropriation of property along the route

History suggests high-speed rail projects in general, and similar major infrastructure projects in Canada and analogous jurisdictions in particular, have typically cost substantially more than planned, taking much longer to complete than anticipated

Alto’s public business case is based on best-case annual cost and ridership revenue projections, exposing Canadian taxpayers to large financial risks

The annual interest payments to finance Alto’s construction are likely to equal or exceed Alto’s annual revenues, even under its own best-case projections

Alto is likely to require large, annual government operational subsidies for decades

Alto will not be in full operation until 2037 at the earliest

Many municipalities through which Alto will pass, without stopping or benefitting them, have expressed opposition to the project

Alto will serve an already well-serviced transportation corridor and provide little to no benefit to Canadians outside that corridor, or to those who do not use it

Canadians will be better served by the government making smarter, less costly, less disruptive, and more limited investments to improve existing services and infrastructure.

History:

Open for signature: May 28, 2026

Closed for signature: September 25, 2026

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Initiated by: Susan Stern from Vancouver, British Columbia

Whereas:

Robert Bateman, age 96, a wildlife artist from Salt Spring Island, B.C., is renowned for his art and ecological advocacy

The mandate of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture and identity

Despite being one of the most celebrated wildlife artists in the world, Mr. Bateman's works have never been exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada.

History:

Open for signature: May 28, 2026

Closed for signature: September 25, 2026

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Initiated by: Terri Jackman from Stayner, Ontario

Whereas:

The Department of National Defence (DND) purchased approximately 288 hectares (711 acres) of prime agricultural land in Clearview Township for a proposed Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) Preliminary Receive Site

The purchased lands overlap and are adjacent to the Minesing Wetlands, a wetland of international importance within the Nottawasaga River watershed that provides flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, water filtration, wildlife habitat, and other critical ecological functions

DND has issued solicitations to landowners regarding potential acquisition of additional lands for two Permanent Receive Sites that could remove thousands of acres of prime farmland from production

Prime agricultural land is a non-renewable national resource, and Ontario continues to lose farmland at an alarming rate

Food security is an important component of Canada's national security and agricultural lands should be protected wherever feasible alternatives exist

Changes to lands connected to sensitive wetlands may affect groundwater systems, agricultural drainage networks, species at risk, wildlife habitat, and downstream communities

Canadians support a strong national defence while expecting responsible stewardship of agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands.

History:

Open for signature: May 28, 2026

Closed for signature: September 25, 2026

Sign here

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