TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — France's envoy to Taiwan said Thursday that foreign naval missions through the Taiwan Strait uphold international law rather than provoke China.

Franck Paris, head of the French representative office in Taipei, said such operations by G7 nations, including France, reject Beijing's territorial claims over the waterway, Reuters reported.

Paris said US warships transit the strait every few months, joined occasionally by allies such as France, Australia, Britain, and Canada to send a message about international jurisdiction. These coordinated efforts also involve partners such as the Netherlands.

The strait carries billions in global trade annually and saw its last confirmed French naval transit in 2024, Paris said. He added that France takes a careful approach to avoid escalation with Beijing.

Taiwan views these passages as support for freedom of navigation, Reuters reported. This contrasts sharply with China's frequent military drills and intimidation.

Paris said the missions align with France's broader Indo-Pacific strategy. He added that there are ongoing consultations among allies to maintain the status quo across the 180-kilometer-wide strait.