BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese territory and there are no so-called "international waters" in the Strait, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when commenting on the attempts by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to involve external forces in the Taiwan Strait by echoing the U.S. claim that the Strait constitutes "international waters" and correlating the issue with the so called "navigation freedom" and transport of global trade.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and China's domestic law, the waters of the Taiwan Strait are divided into internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone, he said.
Chen added that there's no such legal term as "international waters" in international maritime law.
Noting that the Taiwan Strait has always been one of the busiest shipping routes for global trade, Chen said the DPP authorities, by catering to the distorted views of the United States, have betrayed national interests in their pursuit of "Taiwan independence" through soliciting foreign support.
I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
Hurricanes, Blues tussle for top spot in Super Rugby Pacific
Kevin McCloud builds his very OWN Grand Designs: TV star, 64, transforms 400
Seeds from China's space station applied in breeding experiments
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
Brit tourist, 76, drowns while swimming in the sea during day trip to Greek island with his wife
Giants place outfielder Jorge Soler on the 10
Contreras' injury highlights the danger of big league catchers moving closer to home plate
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
Why as a slim woman, I always have to tread on eggshells around my overweight friends
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift will get engaged within a YEAR, claims Dave Portnoy