A Canadian navy ship has passed through the Taiwan Strait in what Canada called a routine transit. China has reacted sharply, saying the passage undermined peace across the strait.

Canada's Joint Operations Command said on social media Wednesday the HMCS Montreal frigate had sailed through the strait. The post, with photos of the frigate and its crew, said Canada operated in accordance with international law in support of the rules-based international order.

Canada's Defense Minister Bill Blair said the same day his country is increasing the presence of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region.

A spokesperson for China's People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command said Thursday the Canadian navy ship passed through the strait the previous day, and the Canadian government had "hyped up" the transit.

The spokesperson said the transit had disrupted and "undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

The US Indo-Pacific Command on Wednesday posted a photo of its guided missile destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson sailing alongside the Canadian ship. It did not say if either ship had sailed through the strait.

The Chinese military spokesperson did not mention involvement of the US forces in the Canadian transit.

US and Canadian Navy ships have passed through the Taiwan Strait before, aiming to curb China's growing military pressure on Taiwan.