Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday (October 29) that it had detected a French naval vessel passing through the Taiwan Strait, marking the latest move by a Western country’s ship through this strategic waterway.
The waters between Taiwan and mainland China are crucial global shipping routes that directly affect the commercial interests of various countries. A study by the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, found that more than one-fifth of the world’s maritime trade flows through this strait.
According to a statement released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, from Monday night (October 28) to Tuesday morning, the French naval vessel was observed traveling from south to north through the Taiwan Strait.
The Ministry of National Defense added that the Taiwanese military closely monitored the surrounding sea and airspace throughout the passage of the French vessel, and the situation was reported as normal without providing further details.
The U.S. Navy typically transits through the strait around once a month, occasionally accompanied by vessels from allied nations.
As per information announced by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense last week, American and Canadian warships sailed from south to north through the Taiwan Strait starting on October 20.
At that time, the U.S. Seventh Fleet stated that the USS Higgins destroyer and the HMCS Vancouver frigate of Canada transited “routinely,” crossing waters that enjoy the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight under international law.
The French Navy has previously passed through the Taiwan Strait, and in September, two German warships made a similar transit.
Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francois Wu, commented on his Facebook page that European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy have visited the area around the Taiwan Strait to maintain regional peace and stability. He highlighted that Taiwan stands together with Europe and the rest of the world in defending mutual interests in regional democracy and peace.
The Chinese Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has conducted military exercises multiple times around the island to bolster military threats. China also asserts sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, a vital waterway for international trade.
Both the United States and Taiwan reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The U.S. State Department has explicitly stated, “The Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, meaning it is an area protected by international law for freedom of navigation, including overflight.”
The State Department further emphasized that the world has a lasting interest in the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, considering it central to the security and prosperity of the broader Indo-Pacific region.