China expressed its anger and Taiwan its gratitude after the U.S., Britain, France and Germany raised the alarm about the Chinese Coast Guard and activities off the island’s east coast.

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Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, wrote on X late ‌on Wednesday that ⁠he was “truly thankful” for the statements from the four countries.

“A rules-based int’l order, the StatusQuo, & regional peace & stability are what we all care about. The PRC should stop its maritime expansionism,” he wrote, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, which runs the island’s Coast Guard, said freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the Taiwan Strait and the waters surrounding ​Taiwan are essential to global ​trade.

“China’s maritime harassment of ⁠Taiwan, and the political pressure that follows, not only violate international law but also harm the shared interests of the international community. They must be promptly contained and collectively rejected,” it added.

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Taiwan ​will continue to stand together with its “friends” and “responsibly and jointly defend the international order in ​surrounding waters through ⁠lawful, appropriate, and firm measures”, the council said in a statement.

Kuan Bi-ling, the minister who runs the council, wrote on her Facebook page that China has been “certified” as a disruptor of regional stability. “The more China harasses Taiwan, the more the international community supports Taiwan!” ⁠she ​added.

Last week, Kuan hosted the de facto British ambassador to Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones, ​on Taiwan’s Yunlin coast guard ship, docked at port.

Taiwan says China has no right to claim any sovereignty or jurisdiction over the island or its waters.

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