France's de-facto ambassador to Taipei, speaking of voyages that regularly enrage China, said Thursday that foreign countries are not provoking China by their naval missions in the Taiwan Strait, but rather asserting international laws.

Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the narrow, strategic strait, which is a part of Chinese territorial waters. It has sometimes reacted aggressively to foreign naval forces sailing in that area.

Franck Paris (Director of the French Office at Taipei) told reporters that "we are careful to send our naval assets into international water without any provocation".

Paris, whose nation is the Group of Seven 'nations chair for the next year, said that the aim was to send a message that international law should prevail in the water and remain there.

U.S. Warships transit the strait several times a year, angering Beijing. Allies of the U.S., including France, Australia, Britain and Canada, also make occasional transits.

Paris stated that it was now routine for G7 statements to contain language opposing the use of force and coercion across the Strait.

He added that the G7 countries had worked together to deliver this message, pointing out past trips to the sea by Canada, the Netherlands and others.

The last time a French navy vessel was publicly confirmed to have sailed in the Strait of Gibraltar, which is a major trade route worth billions of dollars per year, was?2024.

Taiwan's government, which rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, views transits in this way as a support for freedom of navigation. China's military regularly operates in the waterway, which Taipei sees as a campaign of pressure.

France, as most other countries, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, Taipei views France as a 'important partner and fellow democratic country.

It sold fighter jets and frigates from the Mirage family to Taiwan three decades ago, despite being the island's largest international arms supplier.

Paris stated that the assets were still being used by Taiwanese defense, and French companies had provided necessary equipment to maintain them.

"This is our framework and it has been in place for many years." (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez; Ben Blanchard)

(source: Reuters)