The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has expressed strongly to the United States to halt the passage of military ships in the Taiwan Straight, citing an abuse of international law and leveling accusations of `dangerous provocations’. This statement comes as a response to the movement of a US naval destroyer in the politically sensitive area.
According to the PRC, the Taiwan Straight falls under its domain as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which categorizes the area as internal waters. Consequently, this implies that PRC exercises full sovereignty over the area like its mainland territory, including the right to govern access to the region.
This claim of sovereignty from the PRC is birthed from its One China Policy, which includes Taiwan as an integral part of its national territory and obliges all Chinese people to work harmoniously for the reunification of the region. However, Taiwan maintains a counter-claim to the Straight as per Article 4 of its Constitution. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if either claim conforms with the language of the UNCLOS to be classified as internal waters.
The PRC has released its statement amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nations, with the recent election of Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te as Vice President, seen as unfavorable by the PRC due to his cordial relations with the US. Moreover, the US, as per the Taiwan Relations Act, is committed to aiding in the defense of the country, a sentiment echoed by President Joe Biden in a CBS interview last year.
Simultaneously, the PRC finds itself enmeshed in numerous territorial disputes involving the control of surrounding waters. Notably, a case filed by the Philippines concerning claims in the South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has resulted mostly in favor of the Philippines; however, the PRC has refused to accept the ruling.
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