TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's presidential office condemned Chinese drilling activities near Dongsha (東沙) Island Tuesday (Sept. 3) as a significant threat to international order, escalating tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Office of the President (總統府) spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) declared that China's actions violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, creating dangerous regional instability. Experts warn that Taiwan's silence could allow China to normalize its sovereignty encroachments, a situation Vietnam previously thwarted through persistent diplomatic protests.
A U.S. think tank has reported that China has installed a drilling platform within Taiwan's claimed exclusive economic zone, approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the restricted waters of the Dongsha Islands. Kuo confirmed that Taiwan's defense and security units are monitoring the drilling situation closely and are formulating a comprehensive response. The strategic positioning of the platform represents a bold challenge to Taiwan's territorial claims in the contested waters.
Kuo explained that China's establishment of oil and gas exploration platforms in the exclusive economic zones of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and other South China Sea nations violates international legal norms. She urged China to immediately cease its illegal activities in the economic waters of regional countries, including Taiwan, and collaborate to ensure regional safety and stability. The spokesperson emphasized Taiwan's commitment to upholding international maritime law despite mounting pressure from Beijing. ◼