Question: Recently, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron compared the Red Sea to the Taiwan Strait, claiming that he would urge China to support "freedom of navigation" in relevant areas. What is the your comment?

Embassy Spokesperson: It is completely wrong for the British side to compare the Red Sea to the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose it.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. According to UNCLOS and Chinese laws, the waters of the Taiwan Strait, extending from both shores towards the middle of the Strait, are divided into several zones including internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone. China has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, we respect the lawful rights of other countries in relevant waters. We firmly oppose any country stirring trouble in the Taiwan Strait and undermining our sovereignty and security in the name of "freedom of navigation."

As for the Red Sea, we believe that the Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. It is important to ensure the security of international sea lanes. We do not want to see tensions escalate in the Red Sea. We hope that all relevant parties will play a constructive and responsible role in safeguarding the security of the Red Sea region.