《TAIPEI TIMES》 Allies in Taipei condemn Chinese drills off eastern Taiwan

A China Coast Guard ship is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: AFP

GLOBAL CONCERN: The UK, German and French offices reiterated their opposition to unilateral changes to the Taiwan Strait ‘status quo,’ particularly by threat or force

/ Staff writer, with CNA The UK, Germany and France’s de facto embassies in Taiwan, as well as the US’ office, yesterday expressed concern over China’s “special maritime law enforcement operations” in waters east of Taiwan, saying that such behavior threatens regional stability.

In a joint statement issued by the British Office Taipei, the German Institute Taipei and the French Office in Taipei, the three offices, which represent their respective countries’ interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties, said that they had “noted with concern novel Chinese activity in the waters east of Taiwan.”

“These actions threaten regional stability, and the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping,” the statement said. “We reiterate our opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo, particularly by threat or use of force or coercion. It is fundamental that all navigational rights and freedoms and the safety of seafarers and vessels are guaranteed and respected.”

The statement did not elaborate on what it meant by “novel Chinese activity in the waters.”

It was likely referring to several rounds of “special maritime law enforcement operations” conducted by the Chinese government since late last month.

According to Beijing, the operations were launched in response to what it described as unilateral moves by Japan and the Philippines to begin talks on maritime boundary delimitation east of Taiwan.

China said the moves seriously infringe upon its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

Over the past weeks, China Coast Guard and other official vessels have been operating in waters east of Taiwan and around Taiwan-controlled islands in the South China Sea, even intercepting passing merchant ships, the Coast Guard Administration said.

Following the statements by the representative offices, a spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan （AIT） also expressed concern over the reports that Chinese vessels have harassed commercial ships.

The AIT rejects any claim by China that it has the authority to interfere with freedom of navigation or overflight, the freedom to lay undersea cables, or other lawful uses of the sea, the spokesperson said.

Claiming jurisdiction over waters that Taiwan has administered peacefully for more than 70 years would only increase tensions and undermine the peaceful resolution of differences that China itself claims to seek, AIT said.

It also urged Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan, and to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected authorities.

Additional reporting by Huang Ching-hsuan 新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES