Recently, the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the dangerous actions of Chinese vessels towards Philippine government ships that have led to collisions. The Ministry stated that China deliberately seeks to expand disputes between the Philippines and China, using the guise of “safeguarding rights” to disrupt the navigation of other countries’ vessels in the South China Sea. Taiwan strongly denounces China’s blatant expansionist actions with obvious hegemonic intentions.
On the 25th, a clash occurred between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed waters, prompting Gilbert Teodoro Jr., the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, to describe China’s actions in the South China Sea as “aggressive, unprofessional, and clearly illegal.” China claims almost full sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release detailing that the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ vessel, No. 3002, was conducting a humanitarian resupply mission from Hasa Hasa Shoal to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on August 25. The vessel was surrounded, closely approached, and subjected to dangerous measures such as water cannon shots by eight Chinese warships and coast guard vessels, with one of them even ramming the Philippine ship. This marks the second maritime clash in the same area between the two sides this week.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that China has recently deliberately escalated the Philippines-China disputed area from Ren’ai Shoal to Democracy Reef, Sabina Shoal, Sandy Cay, and Subi Reef. China has deployed over a hundred vessels, including navy ships, coast guard vessels, militia ships, and research vessels, in the South China Sea, continuously disrupting the Philippines’ humanitarian resupply operations. Furthermore, China has been interfering with the navigation of other countries’ vessels in the South China Sea using illegal, coercive, and aggressive means under the pretext of “safeguarding rights,” leading to heightened regional tensions.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea is a common international consensus. The Republic of China not only opposes any actions threatening the security of the South China Sea and destabilizing the regional peace and stability but also strongly condemns any use of force, coercion, and compulsion to disrupt the free navigation of other countries’ vessels. Taiwan solemnly urges all parties to exercise restraint, abide by international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and insist on peaceful resolution of differences.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the islands in the South China Sea belong to the Republic of China and that Taiwan has rights under international law and maritime law over the islands and their relevant waters. The Republic of China will continue to closely monitor the situation in the South China Sea with like-minded countries and work together to maintain regional peace and stability. The government of the Republic of China will continue to handle South China Sea-related issues prudently in accordance with the “Four Principles” and “Five Approaches.”