U.S. State Department Says China's Activities in Waters East of Taiwan "Deeply Destabilizing"

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The U.S. State Department expressed concern on June 24 (local time) regarding China's repeated deployment of government vessels to waters east of Taiwan under the pretext of marine environmental research, stating that such actions threaten regional stability.

A State Department spokesperson told Reuters on the same day that "China's actions are deeply destabilizing."

The spokesperson added, "We reject any claim that China has the authority to interfere with the freedom of navigation and overflight, the freedom to lay undersea cables, and other lawful uses of the sea."

China has recently been expanding its influence by repeatedly deploying coast guard and research vessels to waters east of Taiwan, citing seafloor surveying and marine environmental research as justifications.

Taiwan views these activities as an attempt by China to strengthen its claims of jurisdiction over the waters under the guise of scientific research, leading to ongoing maritime tensions as Taiwan attempts to block the entry of Chinese vessels.

On the same day, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany also jointly expressed concern over China's activities in the waters east of Taiwan.

According to reports from the Liberty Times and other sources in Taiwan, the British Office in Taipei, the German Institute Taipei, and the French Office in Taipei issued a joint statement noting, "We are observing China's recent new activities in the waters east of Taiwan." They pointed out that "these activities threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation, and the safety of international maritime transport."

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