TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council on Tuesday condemned Chinese government vessels for radioing merchant ships in Taiwan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The council said the actions breached international law and undermined regional peace, per UDN. It added that Taiwan's sovereign rights within its EEZ are protected under domestic law, international law, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The Coast Guard Administration said that at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, five Chinese government vessels — Haixun 06, Haixun 08, Haixun 09, Donghaijiu 113, and China Coast Guard vessel 2202 — were 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) east of Pengjia Islet and 12 nm beyond Taiwan's restricted waters. The vessels were moving northward away from Taiwan-controlled waters.
The Chinese vessels reportedly radioed three passing merchant ships. They requested information including the ships' ports of departure and destination and the number of crew members on board.
The council said Taiwan and China are not subordinate to one another and that Beijing has no sovereignty or jurisdiction over waters off Taiwan's east coast. It said any attempt by the Chinese government to expand the scope of its sovereignty claims through such actions would fail.
