Taiwan condemns China‘s Oil Rig Deployment Near Dongsha Island
Taipei, Taiwan – September 4, 2023 – Taiwan’s Presidential Office has strongly protested China’s recent deployment of oil rigs in waters near Dongsha Island, asserting the actions violate international maritime law and threaten regional security. The response follows a report released Tuesday by the Jamestown Foundation detailing Beijing’s increasing use of offshore drilling platforms in contested areas as part of a “gray zone” strategy.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo stated on Wednesday that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense and other security agencies are closely monitoring the situation.Kuo emphasized that China’s installation of oil and gas platforms within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and continental shelves of Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan directly contravenes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). She argued this behavior undermines international legal norms and erodes trust in the region.
“Beijing’s unilateral activities harm the global order and threaten the stability of the Asia-Pacific,” Kuo said. She noted that other South china Sea nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have also experienced similar unlawful actions by China, and called on Beijing to “explain its conduct and immediately halt illegal installations and extraction operations in the economic waters of Taiwan and other countries.”
the Jamestown Foundation report recommended that Taipei emulate the responses of Japan and Vietnam by firmly rejecting China’s encroachments. Analysts suggest these tactics aim to obscure the distinction between civilian infrastructure and military capabilities,gradually normalizing Chinese control over disputed territories.
Taiwan’s government is currently conducting a thorough risk assessment to determine appropriate countermeasures. Kuo affirmed that Taipei will also strengthen cooperation with regional partners to develop coordinated responses,ensuring maritime security and stability.
taiwan views the deployment not as an isolated incident, but as part of a larger pattern of Chinese expansionism in the region. The government has pledged to take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and maintain peace.
(Source: Asian news International (ANI))