Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is now a shared international interest, and China should cease escalating threats against Taiwan and the region. That came from the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, June 24, in response to a joint statement from three diplomatic missions in Taiwan expressing concern over China’s recent destabilizing actions.

Earlier in June, China’s Transport Ministry announced a special maritime law enforcement operation in the waters off Taiwan’s east coast. That came after Japan and the Philippines announced negotiations over the maritime boundaries of their exclusive economic zones (EEZ).

On Wednesday, diplomatic missions from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing concern over Chinese activities which endangered regional stability.

The Foreign Ministry said that the three countries have once again demonstrated through concrete actions their support for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the rules-based international order. The ministry also condemned Chinese actions as lacking basis in international law and seriously impacting regional security, freedom of navigation, and the international maritime order.