Premier Su Tseng-chang on Wednesday morning emphasized that the Taiwan Strait is international waters. That means it’s subject to freedom of navigation principles under international law. Su’s comments come in response to remarks made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
On Monday, Wang said the waterway separating Taiwan and China falls under Chinese jurisdiction. He said that international maritime law is not applicable in the Taiwan Strait.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and has not ruled out taking the country by force.
Su says Wang’s comments are part of a continued plot to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, the premier pointed out that China’s claim over the Taiwan Strait is unlikely to receive international support. He says that’s because too many countries transit through the waterway regularly.