Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Taiwan rejects China's Taiwan Strait shipping controls as 'utterly ridiculous'
China and Taiwan are two places in Asia that disagree about who is in charge.
A big storm called Typhoon Dolphin was heading toward the sea between them.
China told ships sailing through that sea to follow new safety rules because of the storm.
But Taiwan said China has no right to give those orders because that sea is international waters.
Taiwan called China's announcement 'utterly ridiculous.'
Taiwan's Coast Guard told ships to ignore messages from China and to report any strange broadcasts.
China says Taiwan is part of China, but Taiwan and the United States disagree with that.
The storm was expected to pass north of Taiwan and reach China's east coast.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council called China's shipping traffic controls in the Taiwan Strait 'utterly ridiculous' and said Beijing has no authority over international waters.
China imposed the traffic control measures due to Typhoon Dolphin, requiring vessels heading north through the strait's southern entrance to comply from Thursday night.
Taiwan's Coast Guard said it observed no abnormal movements by Chinese vessels and that no shipping companies reported broadcast interference.
The Coast Guard advised merchant and cargo ships to disregard broadcast demands from Chinese authorities and to immediately report such incidents.
Typhoon Dolphin was forecast to pass north of Taiwan and make landfall on China's east coast late Saturday or early Sunday.
- Who
- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council and Coast Guard, and China's maritime authorities
- What
- Taiwan rejected China's shipping traffic control measures in the Taiwan Strait imposed during Typhoon Dolphin
- When
- Late Friday, after the controls took effect from Thursday night
- Where
- The Taiwan Strait, a major international shipping route
- Why
- Beijing said the controls were needed for safety as Typhoon Dolphin approached, while Taiwan says Beijing has no right to regulate international waters
Taipei
Beijing
Authority over the strait
Taipei
Beijing has no right to regulate international waters; the statement reflects ignorance, disregard, and trampling of international order and norms.
Beijing
China claims the Taiwan Strait as part of its territory because it regards Taiwan as part of China.
Purpose of the shipping controls
Taipei
The traffic controls are unreasonable meddling in Taiwan's affairs, not a legitimate safety measure.
Beijing
The controls were necessary safety measures to ensure safety at sea as Typhoon Dolphin approached.
Taiwan's status
Taipei
Only the people of Taiwan can decide the island's future, and Taiwan's affairs need no meddling from China.
Beijing
Taiwan is part of China's territory.
- Dispute
- Taiwan rejects China's shipping control measures in the Taiwan Strait
- China's measure
- Traffic control for vessels heading north through the strait's southern entrance, effective from Thursday night
- Reason cited by China
- Approach of Typhoon Dolphin
- Taiwan's response
- Mainland Affairs Council called it 'utterly ridiculous' and an 'ignorance, disregard, and trampling of international order and norms'
- Coast Guard findings
- No abnormal movements by Chinese vessels; no broadcast interference reported by shipping companies
- Typhoon path
- Forecast to pass north of Taiwan, making landfall on China's east coast late Saturday or early Sunday
- Background
- China claims Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait; Taipei and Washington reject that claim; China's military operates in the strait almost daily