TAIPEI, June 24 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Britain, France, and Germany raised the alarm on Wednesday regarding recent Chinese activities off the east coast of Taiwan. The three nations, in a rare joint statement from their de facto embassies, noted that coast guard patrols and maritime survey operations in the area threaten regional stability and the freedom of navigation.
China previously sent coast guard ships into the waters east of the island earlier in June. Beijing characterized the movement as a special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation. The Chinese government maintains that Taiwan is its own territory, a claim rejected by the democratically governed island’s authorities.
The joint statement expressed deep concern over what the European representatives termed novel Chinese activity. The signatories emphasized the necessity of upholding international shipping safety and existing navigational rights.
“We reiterate our opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo, particularly by threat or use of force or coercion,” the statement said.
The European powers noted that such actions impact the safety of seafarers and vessels in these critical maritime zones. They urged that all navigational rights and freedoms be fully respected.
The Chinese activities followed announcements from Japan and the Philippines regarding formal talks on their respective maritime boundaries. Beijing claimed these boundary discussions involve Chinese waters off Taiwan and initiated the patrols as a response.
Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, defended the operations during a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. She stated that the patrols are lawful, legitimate, and necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime interests. She further asserted that the areas under negotiation with Japan and the Philippines fall within China’s exclusive economic zone.
Taiwan has pushed back against Beijing’s claims, stating that the waters off its east coast do not belong to China and that Beijing lacks the right to claim jurisdiction. Local authorities reported that the Chinese coast guard inspected 198 passing vessels during their operation.
According to Taipei, the Chinese coast guard harassed three merchant ships in the area. These vessels were reportedly questioned about their points of origin and destination, with the Chinese authorities claiming jurisdiction over the ships.
China reported that it rectified violations involving three vessels and carried out a hydrographic survey. The state also noted that patrols were conducted in areas where critical undersea cables are located. While Britain, France, and Germany do not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, they have frequently expressed concern regarding pressure from Beijing.
