(Central News Agency reporter Lu Jiarong, Taipei, 7th) In response to China's Ministry of Transport claiming to have conducted a 'Maritime Traffic Special Law Enforcement Action' in waters east of Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that the rights of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone are not to be infringed upon by any country, and that the other side's unwarranted provocation is 'absolutely unacceptable.'

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, on the 6th, China's Ministry of Transport organized the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, Donghai Navigation Safety Center, and Donghai Rescue Bureau to carry out a 'Maritime Traffic Special Law Enforcement Action' in waters east of Taiwan.

China claims this is a comprehensive exercise of its 'maritime administrative law enforcement jurisdiction' and to 'safeguard national rights and interests,' and that it is a necessary action in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of 'maritime delimitation negotiations' east of Taiwan.

In response, the MAC stated on the 6th that the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has been conducting intensive monitoring and is firmly defending national sovereignty through concrete actions to ensure maritime safety, asking the public to 'rest assured.'

The CGA issued a press release in the morning stating that it strongly refutes that China does not have any sovereign rights in the waters east of Taiwan, and that this action violates international law and severely deviates from the facts.

The CGA said it has pre-deployed five vessels – the Danshui, Ji'an, Kaohsiung, Changbin, and Hualien – and has pushed forward 100-ton patrol boats to the 24-nautical-mile line to assist in monitoring. Chinese official vessels did not enter Taiwan's restricted waters at any time, and vessels in the waters surrounding Taiwan continue to navigate normally. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150607

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Taiwan