Taiwan opposes Beijing’s claim to control over a waterway used by both the US and Taiwan

Taiwan opposes Beijing’s claim to control over a waterway used by both the US and Taiwan

Web Desk
June 14, 2022

Taiwan opposes Beijing’s claim to control over a waterway used by both the US and Taiwan

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “the Taiwan Strait is international water.”
Places outside of Taipei’s control “are subject to the norm of international law’s ‘freedom of the high seas.'”
US Navy sends warships through the strait on a regular basis, with allies such as Canada, the UK, and France joining them on occasion.

On June 14, the United Press International (UPI) published an article titled Taiwan termed China’s claim to sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait a “fallacy” on Tuesday, and said it supported US military ships conducting freedom-of-navigation operations in the waterway.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “the Taiwan Strait is international waters” and that places outside of Taipei’s control “are subject to the norm of international law’s ‘freedom of the high seas.'”

The US Navy sends warships through the strait on a regular basis, with allies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and France joining them on occasion.

The Taiwanese statement continued, “We understand and appreciate the benefits of the US mission of freedom of passage in supporting peace and stability in the region.”

Beijing’s rejection of international law, according to the ministry, reveals its hostile intentions against democratic, self-governing countries.

“China’s desire to conquer Taiwan is clear,” according to the statement.

Taiwan’s comments were made in response to Beijing’s recent public statements regarding the waterway.

China has “sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction” over the Taiwan Strait, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, who also chastised the US for “undermin[ing] cross-Strait peace and stability.”

China considers Taiwan to be a rebellious province and has threatened to annex it militarily if necessary.

Concerns about China’s intentions have grown in the aftermath of Russia’s four-month invasion of Ukraine, and the democratic island of 23 million people has become probably the primary point of disagreement in the relationship between Beijing and Washington.

Over the last few months, Beijing has stepped up military provocations, with frequent incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone and combat training exercises near the island, a tactic Taipei refers to as “grey zone” warfare, designed to test the island’s defense capabilities and sap morale.

According to a Pentagon summary, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe at a regional defense meeting in Singapore over the weekend and voiced concerns about the Chinese military’s “unsafe, aggressive, and unprofessional behavior.”

Beijing “may be aiming to disrupt the status quo through its operational actions,” Austin added.

Wei, for one, reaffirmed China’s determination to seize control of Taiwan by any means necessary.

“If someone dares to separate Taiwan from China, we will fight,” Wei said in a speech to the event on Sunday. “We will fight no matter what it takes, and we will fight until the end. For China, this is the only option.”