China Asserts Shared Obligation of All Chinese Citizens on Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait to Protect National Sovereignty and Maritime Territorial Rights
Summary
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared at a press briefing that both sides of the Taiwan Strait constitute one China, and that all Chinese people share a collective responsibility to defend national sovereignty and maritime rights. The statement was triggered by Taiwan authorities' endorsement of maritime boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines concerning waters east of Taiwan island. Beijing firmly asserts that under both Chinese domestic law and international law, including UNCLOS, China holds exclusive economic zone and continental shelf rights in the disputed area, and therefore must be included as a party in any delimitation talks. China condemned Japan and the Philippines for attempting to conduct maritime delimitation discussions that exclude China, characterizing this as a serious violation of UNCLOS and international norms that infringes upon China's sovereign maritime rights. Mao also sharply criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, accusing them of betraying Chinese national interests for political gain and labeling them as "traitors to the nation" who will face historical condemnation.
Key Takeaways
- 1. **China's Maritime Sovereignty Claim:** Beijing asserts undisputed legal authority over waters east of Taiwan under UNCLOS and domestic law, demanding mandatory inclusion in any regional maritime delimitation negotiations
- 2. **Strategic Opposition to Japan-Philippines Talks:** China views the Japan-Philippines maritime boundary discussions as a deliberate geopolitical maneuver to circumvent Chinese influence and undermine its territorial rights in the region
- 3. **One China Framework as Strategic Tool:** Beijing is leveraging the "one China" principle to delegitimize Taiwan's independent diplomatic engagements and reinforce its narrative that Taiwan cannot act as a sovereign entity in international affairs
- 4. **Sharp Escalation Against DPP Leadership:** The unusually harsh "traitor" designation directed at Taiwan's DPP authorities signals Beijing's deepening hostility toward Taiwan's current administration and potential for increased cross-strait tensions
- 5. **Multilateral Regional Security Implications:** China's insistence on being party to any maritime delimitation talks directly challenges the emerging security alignment between Japan and the Philippines, complicating U.S.-allied strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region