China defends Taiwan Strait patrols as 'reasonable' and 'necessary'

China has asserted that its recent maritime patrols east of Taiwan are "reasonable, legal, legitimate, and necessary." The Chinese government, through its Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian, accused Japan and the Philippines of violating international law and infringing upon Beijing's maritime rights in the region.

Zhu stated that China possesses an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the waters east of Taiwan, a position strongly contested by Taipei. She emphasized that the patrols conducted by the Coast Guard constitute a lawful exercise of jurisdiction and a just act to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.

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The control patrols that the mainland Coast Guard carries out in the corresponding waters constitute a lawful exercise of jurisdiction and a just act to safeguard the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the country.

The patrols, described as a "just action" against Japan and the Philippines, were initiated after those countries announced intentions to negotiate the delimitation of their respective exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in the same area. Zhu condemned such discussions without Beijing's consideration as a severe violation of international law and basic norms of international relations, deeming them illegal and void.

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Carrying out this type of conversation without taking Beijing into account gravely violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, gravely infringes upon China's maritime rights and interests, and is completely illegal and void.

Furthermore, Zhu criticized Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, accusing them of "ceding and compromising" to Tokyo and Manila in pursuit of "independence by relying on external forces." She declared that the DPP representatives have harmed the overall interests of the Chinese nation and the concrete interests of Taiwan's fishermen, labeling them "scum of the nation" who will face historical reckoning.

These remarks followed Beijing's "special maritime traffic control operation" between June 6 and 10, during which 198 vessels were inspected. The operation had previously drawn criticism from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, who expressed concern over a deployment they deemed a "threat" to regional stability, freedom of navigation, and international maritime transport safety.

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The DPP representatives have harmed the overall interests of the Chinese nation and the concrete interests of Taiwan's fishermen, becoming scum of the nation; they have already been rejected by compatriots on both shores and will inevitably suffer the reckoning of history.