Taiwan yesterday condemned Beijing’s “dangerous” behavior after a collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels in the South China Sea left four Filipino crewmembers injured.
The nation expresses “grave concern” over the rise in tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and “condemns” Beijing’s activities in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The Chinese coast guard has used “water cannons and dangerous maneuvers” to impede Philippine patrol vessels and supply ships near the Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) and Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙), which again resulted in a collision on Tuesday, the ministry said.
Photo: Yang Yao-ru, Taipei Times
“The ministry reiterates its opposition to any activity that jeopardizes security in the South China Sea or poses harm to the region’s peace, stability and status quo, while calling on both parties to follow the provisions of international law, exercise restraint and avoid the use of force,” it said.
Taiwan supports freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea without relinquishing its legal claims to the disputed islands and their surrounding waters, the ministry said.
It also opposes any attempt by a claimant to use threats, coercion or force to resolve South China Sea disputes, it added.
Taipei continues to follow the policy declared in 2016 by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) under which claimants would ideally set aside their disagreements to cooperate in developing the area’s resources, the ministry said.
Separately yesterday, the ministry thanked Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi for reaffirming Tokyo’s wish for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue.
The Japanese government intends to convey its position directly to China, he told a news conference at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Beijing’s rapid military buildup, which is being conducted without transparency, constitutes the greatest strategic challenge to the rules-based international order, Hayashi was quoted as saying in a Japanese foreign ministry statement.
Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is key to the national security of Japan and the global community, he said, adding that Tokyo continues to cooperate with its allies in keeping the peace.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it “appreciates and welcomes” Hayashi’s comments.
Taiwan is glad that members of the global alliance of democracies continue to take measures to counter authoritarian expansionism, which threatens international peace and stability, it said.
The nation is committed to a policy of bolstering its resilience and displaying its will to defend itself, as well as seeking to collaborate with like-minded countries to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.
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