Germany, France, UK express concern over China's activities off Taiwan

Germany, France and the United Kingdom on Wednesday jointly expressed concern over recent Chinese activities off Taiwan's east coast.

"These actions threaten regional stability and the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping," the three countries’ representative offices in Taiwan said in a joint statement. They also reiterate their opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo, particularly by threat or use of force or coercion.

Earlier this month, China's coastguard conducted patrols off Taiwan's east coast, which Beijing said were intended to enforce regulations in the area.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said it had monitored the operations and reported that Chinese authorities had contacted passing commercial vessels.

Observers believe the move was an attempt by Beijing to assert jurisdiction over those waters.

The Communist Party in Beijing considers Taiwan part of China’s territory. For years, China has increased pressure on the self-governed island through military exercises. Taiwan is separated from mainland China by only a narrow body of water along its western coast - the Taiwan Strait.

Just on Tuesday, China sailed its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s Defence Ministry. 

The transit occurred while Taiwan was conducting a five-day military exercise aimed at improving and accelerating its readiness for a potential conflict.
Beijing has repeatedly made clear its intention to bring Taiwan under its control, using military force if necessary.

A spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) confirmed in response to a Central News Agency inquiry on Wednesday afternoon that Chinese coastguard and maritime surveillance vessels had intruded into waters off Taiwan’s east coast and claimed jurisdiction over the area.

The United States has expressed concern over these reports, it said.

The spokesperson said the US rejects any Chinese claims that interfere with freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, freedom to lay submarine cables, or other lawful uses of the sea.

The spokesperson described China’s actions as destabilizing. China’s attempt to exercise administrative control over waters that have been peacefully managed for more than 70 years only heightens tensions and undermines the peaceful resolution it claims to seek, the AIT said.

The spokesperson added that the US urges Beijing to stop military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and to engage in meaningful dialogue with the island's democratically elected government.