Missions in strait about international law: ParisBy Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEINaval missions by foreign countries in the Taiwan Strait are about asserting international law, rather than offering provocation, French Office in Taipei Director Franck Paris said yesterday. Beijing views the narrow, highly strategic strait as Chinese territorial waters and has responded aggressively on occasion to foreign navies sailing there. “We are careful to send these naval assets into international waters without any provocation,” Paris told reporters. Photo: Huang Ching-hsuan, Taipei TimesThey aimed to send a clear message that international law prevails in the waters and should remain so, added Paris, whose country is chairing G7 for the coming year. US warships traverse the Taiwan Strait every few months, and some US allies, such as France, Australia, the UK and Canada, have also made occasional transits.

Source: Taipei Times February 05, 2026 17:12 UTC