Taiwan slams China’s Taiwan strait shipping controls as ‘ridiculous’

TAIWAN has condemned China’s attempt to impose traffic control measures on vessels entering the Taiwan Strait amid Typhoon Dolphin, calling the move "ridiculous" and rejecting Beijing’s claim to restrict access to international waters.

According to Reuters, China, which regards democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, also claims sovereignty over the strategic Taiwan Strait, a major international shipping route through which billions of dollars in trade pass each year. Taiwan and the United States reject Beijing’s claim.

Chinese state media said on Wednesday that, because of the approaching typhoon, ships travelling north through the southern entrance of the Taiwan Strait would be subject to traffic controls from Thursday night.

It said all vessels were required to comply with the measures, seek shelter in safe waters and follow instructions from maritime management authorities to ensure safety at sea.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council strongly rejected the move, saying Beijing had no authority to interfere with navigation in international waters.

"The unreasonable and crude statement by the relevant Chinese Communist departments reflects an ignorance, disregard, and trampling of international order and norms. It is utterly ridiculous!" the council said in a statement late Friday.

"Taiwan's own affairs need no meddling by the Chinese Communists," it added.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard, in a separate statement, said it had detected no "abnormal movements" by Chinese vessels and had received no reports from shipping companies of "broadcast interference".

It advised merchant and cargo vessels transiting the strait to disregard any Chinese broadcast instructions they might receive and immediately report such incidents.

The Coast Guard said it would take all necessary measures to safeguard freedom and safety of navigation.

The dispute comes as Typhoon Dolphin tracks north of Taiwan and is expected to make landfall on China’s east coast late Saturday or early Sunday.

While Beijing has justified the shipping controls on maritime safety grounds, the move has added to longstanding tensions over control and navigation rights in the Taiwan Strait.

China’s military operates in and around the strait on an almost daily basis, while Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that the future of the island can be determined only by its people. - August 8, 2026