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Taiwan is an island situated 124 miles off the eastern shore of the Chinese mainland and surrounded by the East China Sea, West Pacific Ocean, Bashi Channel, and Taiwan Strait. Owing to its strategic location that is 725 miles south of Japan and 207 miles north of the Philippines, Taiwan used to play a key role during the Cold War period and was praised as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” during the Korean War (1950–1953).The sovereignty exercised in the island of Taiwan is the Republic of China (ROC) which was established in 1912. However, after the establishment of…

10.1 ROC MOFA Protests Malaysia’s Deportation of 21 ROC NationalsOn 29 November 2016, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following press release to protest Malaysia’s deportation of ROC nationals to Mainland China.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has expressed to the Malaysian government its profound regret regarding the deportation to mainland China of 21 ROC nationals allegedly involved in telecommunications fraud, and lodged a strong protest at the violation of the principle of national jurisdiction.On 27 October 2016, Malaysia…

8.1 Taiwan Terminated Diplomatic Relations with São Tomé and PríncipeOn 21 December 2016, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following press release on the termination of diplomatic relations with São Tomé and Príncipe.The Republic of China has terminated diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe with immediate effect on 21 December 2016, in order to uphold the dignity of the nation. The ROC will close its embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe, recall its technical mission, and end all bil…

11.1 Taiwan’s East China Sea PolicyThe Diaoyutai Islands, known as Senkaku Island in Japanese, is located to the north-east of Taiwan. The Diaoyutai Islands dispute is a territorial conflict on a group of uninhabited islands known as the Diaoyu Islands in the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) between three claimants: the Republic of China (ROC or Taiwan), China and Japan. To clarify Taiwan’s position, it has reiterated a ten-point Sovereignty claim dating as early as the 15th century.The following are the points for the ROC’s sovereignty claim on Diaoyutai Islands …

3.1 Taiwan’s Maritime ClaimsTaiwan has declared its baselines in 1999 by the Executive Yuan (The First Part of the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of Taiwan, Executive Yuan, 18 November 1999). It should be noticed that it is implied in this instrument that the listed baselines are not complete. In fact, although Taiwan has territorial claims in the South China Sea, except the Pratas and Scarborough Shoal, no baseline has been drawn in the South China Sea. The Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and…

12.1 Taiwan and Dispute Settlement Mechanism in RFMOsDispute settlement mechanism (DSM) has been a crucial element in the fields of international law and international organizations today. Particularly, when the United Nations was established in 1945, Article 2(3) of the Charter of the United Nations clearly stipulated that all Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace, security, and justice are not endangered. Therefore, peaceful disp…

15.1 Taiwan and Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous ZoneAnnounced on 21 January 1998, the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone of the Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Law) preserves the Republic of China (ROC)’s sovereignty over relevant territorial seas and rights over relevant contiguous zones. Likewise, the customary international law status of certain provisions – under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS Convention) – provides a legal basis for Taiwan …