Great Britain, France, and Germany on Wednesday issued a rare joint statement expressing alarm over Chinese activities east of the self-ruled island of Taiwan. The de-facto embassies of the three European nations in Taipei stated that the “novel Chinese activity,” which was not specifically identified, endangered regional stability.
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to annex the island, described the maneuvers earlier this month as a “maritime traffic enforcement and hydrographic survey operation.” Chinese state media indicated these activities were intended as a “pointed warning” to Japan and the Philippines regarding discussions of maritime boundaries in waters Beijing considers its own.
This joint statement comes after China sailed its newest aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, hours after Taiwan commenced a five-day military exercise simulating a response to a potential Chinese attack. The European nations' statement asserted that "These actions threaten regional stability and the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping. We reiterate our opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo, particularly by threat or use of force or coercion." The offices also called for navigational rights and freedoms and respect for the safety of all seafarers.
China has intensified pressure on Taiwan in recent years, frequently deploying military vessels and aircraft near the island and conducting occasional live-fire drills. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have also risen since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that the country's military could intervene if China took action against Taiwan.
Taiwan's ongoing military drills are designed to enhance the island's combat readiness against a potential Chinese assault. According to Taiwan's Defense Ministry, these exercises aim to test the rapid deployment capabilities of military units, particularly in response to possible escalations of Chinese grey-zone warfare. Grey-zone tactics encompass a range of aggressive actions, from navy ship patrols to drone flights, that fall short of direct combat. Earlier this month, Taiwan reported that Chinese coast guard ships had harassed commercial vessels near Taiwan by demanding they declare their intended routes.