Taiwan’s primary opposition party, the KMT, has walked back statements one of its officials made about maritime sovereignty in the Taiwan Strait. Earlier this month, China’s foreign ministry said that the waters around Taiwan belonged to the country. That’s because China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
On Tuesday, the KMT’s Director for International Relations Alexander Huang did not outright refute China’s claim. While he did say the KMT did not accept China’s claim over the Taiwan Strait, he said China’s claim was a question of legal interpretation. Furthermore, Huang added that the US’ response that the Taiwan Strait was international waters had “no legs to stand on.”
Huang’s statement drew controversy and, on Wednesday morning, the ruling DPP’s legislative caucus held a press conference to respond. DPP lawmakers said many countries reject China’s claim over Taiwan’s waters. The caucus said Huang’s analysis of the situation goes against the domestic and international consensus.
On Wednesday the KMT released a statement to clarify its stance on the matter. The party rejects China’s claim over Taiwan’s waters. It encourages all countries to use the strait’s public waters. The KMT adds that it wants any countries that use the Taiwan Strait to do so in a manner that would be helpful to relieving tensions in the region.
