Chinese Government Vessels Harass Foreign Merchant Ships; MAC Says 'Serious Violation of International Law'

(Central News Agency, reporter Li Yawen, Taipei, 9th) Chinese government vessels, under the pretext of Japan-Philippines negotiations, broadcast to foreign merchant ships in the eastern waters of Taiwan today (9th), falsely claiming jurisdiction. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated tonight that China has seriously violated international law, undermined regional peace and stability, and issued a stern condemnation.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated in a press release on the evening of the 9th that Chinese government vessels had unjustifiably harassed foreign merchant ships transiting the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of China (Taiwan). This act constitutes a serious violation of international law and international conventions, undermining regional peace and stability, and is hereby strongly condemned.

The MAC explained that, according to domestic law, international law, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Republic of China's sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone are indisputable and not to be challenged. The Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. China has no sovereignty or jurisdiction whatsoever in the eastern waters of Taiwan. China's scheme to expand its sovereign scope through this pretext will absolutely not succeed.

The MAC emphasized that the Coast Guard Administration is conducting intensive monitoring and will defend national sovereignty and ensure maritime security with concrete actions. "The Beijing authorities are seizing the opportunity to provoke trouble. We absolutely do not accept this and lodge a serious protest."

Chinese government vessels used the Japan-Philippines negotiations as a pretext to intrude into the eastern waters of Taiwan. The Coast Guard Administration stated today that five Chinese government vessels moved away from Taiwan's waters in the morning, but during that time, they broadcast inquiries to three transiting cargo ships, falsely claiming jurisdiction, and were sternly warned by Coast Guard vessels.

The Coast Guard Administration stated that it immediately broadcast warnings to the Chinese government vessels. Simultaneously, it broadcast to the transiting cargo ships, emphasizing, "This is the waters of the Republic of China," and instructed them to maintain normal navigation and ignore the broadcasts from the Chinese government vessels. (Editor: Qiu Guoqiang) 1150609