Four Representative Offices in Taiwan Express Concern Over Chinese Maritime Incursions; MOFA: Peace in Taiwan Strait is a Global Common Interest

In response to recent maritime law enforcement activities conducted by China in the waters east of Taiwan, the representative offices of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have formally expressed their concern. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked these nations, reiterating that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a global common interest and calling on Beijing to cease its threats against Taiwan and the region.

China's Ministry of Transport recently organized several maritime bureaus to launch "maritime traffic special law enforcement operations" in waters east of Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the German Institute Taipei, the British Office Taipei, and the French Office in Taipei issued statements highlighting that these actions threaten regional stability.

MOFA stated that Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed this international solidarity, particularly noting the firm support from the U.S. for Taiwan's security and maritime order. MOFA further pointed out that the UK, France, and Germany are upholding the spirit of the G7 Summit's geopolitical declarations, reflecting a broader international consensus on maintaining a rules-based order.

Taiwan emphasizes that it maintains sovereignty and jurisdiction over its surrounding waters in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. MOFA asserted that China lacks a legal basis for these actions, which constitute a form of "power expansion under the guise of law enforcement," and has urged China to refrain from unilateral changes to the status quo.