US says Chinese actions off Taiwan are 'deeply destabilising'
TAIPEI: China’s maritime actions off Taiwan’s east coast are “deeply destabilising” and only worsen tensions, the US State Department said, after Reuters reported the first known sighting of a Chinese militia boat in those waters in August.
The US State Department has described China's recent maritime actions off Taiwan's eastern coast as deeply destabilising, intensifying regional tensions. This comes after Reuters reported the first known sighting of a Chinese militia boat in these waters in August. China, claiming Taiwan as its own territory, has escalated activity in the region since June, with regular coast guard patrols.
Taiwan's government, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, believes China is preparing for a possible maritime blockade, utilizing a mix of military, paramilitary, and civilian assets. Taiwan regards the eastern coastal area as crucial for wartime supply routes from allies in case of a blockade or conflict.
The US remains concerned about China's activities east of Taiwan, a State Department spokesperson stated, reacting to the militia boat sighting. The spokesperson emphasized that China's actions are deeply destabilising as they assert authority over maritime zones that Taiwan has administered peacefully for over seven decades. The US urges China to cease its pressure on Taiwan and engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected authorities.
China's foreign ministry has yet to comment on the matter. China maintains that it recognizes no sovereignty claims by Taiwan over the surrounding waters. The US remains Taiwan's most significant international supporter, although President Donald Trump has not approved a new $14 billion arms sale package for the island.
Taiwan's Coast Guard reported that the militia boat and its accompanying vessels were operating outside restricted waters. This practice dates back to the 1950s, with China's maritime militia, commonly seen in disputed South China Sea areas, consisting of fishing vessels trained and supported to operate in contested waters, often alongside coast guard ships.
In June, Britain, France, Germany, and the US expressed concern over Chinese activities off Taiwan's eastern coast, citing threats to regional stability and freedom of navigation.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
