China Claims 'Special Law Enforcement' in Eastern Waters; Shen Yu-chung: Expanding Gray Zone Conflict

(Central News Agency, Reporter Lu Chia-jung, Taipei, 12th) Regarding China's recent implementation of 'special law enforcement' in the eastern waters of Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Chairman Shen Yu-chung stated yesterday that China is attempting to exploit the economic waters negotiations among Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines to expand gray zone conflicts.

Shen Yu-chung attended a symposium at Tunghai University on the 11th, titled 'Taiwan Has No 'Independence' Issue, Only a 'Being Unified' Issue.'

In his address, Shen pointed out that China's recent implementation of so-called 'special law enforcement' in the eastern waters of Taiwan, and its dissemination of statements like 'firmly encircling Taiwan' and 'ending the sweep operation' through the media, are purely self-serving and self-deceptive lies. In fact, China is attempting to exploit the economic waters negotiations among Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines to expand gray zone conflicts.

He stated that China's dispatch of government vessels to intrude into Taiwan's economic waters, and even its barbaric acts of harassing commercial vessels of other countries, not only lack legal basis but also openly challenge Taiwan's domestic laws and international legal norms such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Taiwan strongly condemns such actions that disrupt the status quo and make China a 'troublemaker' for regional stability, and calls on China to immediately cease its overbearing actions.

Shen reiterated that the negotiations regarding the eastern waters of Taiwan and the continental shelf are a tripartite issue among the Republic of China, Japan, and the Philippines, and have no relation whatsoever to the People's Republic of China. The sovereign rights enjoyed by Taiwan under international law and the law of the sea are beyond question. Taiwan will continue to consult and communicate with Japan and the Philippines, and Taiwan's sovereignty and fishing rights will never be affected by the Japan-Philippines negotiations. China should recognize that the recent establishment of a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' between Japan and the Philippines is precisely a response to the threat of China's military expansion and its incessant acts of expanding conflict, which are entirely overbearing, irresponsible, and bullying behavior.

Shen further explained that maintaining the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the consistent principle of the government in handling cross-strait issues. This is not only the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan but also the common interest and goal of global democratic nations. The MAC urges China not to ignore Taiwanese public opinion or challenge the interests of global democratic nations. It should face the objective fact of the existence of the Republic of China, engage in communication and dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected government, and abandon irresponsible methods such as military coercion to disrupt the status quo.

Shen concluded by emphasizing that Taiwan does not have an independence issue; it only faces the threat and pressure of being unified by an authoritarian regime. Under China's pressure, one should not cater to its 'One China' narrative. Attempting to package peace through compromise will never result in stable or reliable peace. Only by safeguarding sovereignty through strength and ensuring peace based on sovereignty can peace be reliable and sustainable. He called on the people, regardless of party affiliation, to unite and stand with the government to defend national sovereignty and steadfastly protect the free and democratic way of life. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150612