Taiwan Strait

Recent News:
China’s military recently reported that it had followed and warned a Canadian and an Australian warship that were sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

About the Taiwan Strait

• Location and Geography:

  • The Taiwan Strait, also known as the Formosa Strait, separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan.

  • It extends from the South China Sea in the southwest to the East China Sea in the northeast.

  • The strait runs between the coast of Fujian Province in China and the island of Taiwan.

• Dimensions:

  • Average Width: About 180 km.

  • Narrowest Point: Approximately 130 km wide.

  • Depth: The strait is relatively shallow, with an average depth of about 490 ft (150 meters) and a minimum depth of 82 ft (25 meters).

• Strategic Importance:

  • The Taiwan Strait sits on Asia's continental shelf, which stretches across its entire length, making it crucial for both economic and military activities.

  • It serves as a major navigational waterway, handling millions of tons of cargo annually, and is one of the most important fishing grounds in China, home to over 100 economically significant fish species.

Key Features of the Taiwan Strait

1. Strategic Waterway:

   • The strait is vital for global shipping routes, and its waters are often used for military maneuvers by various nations.

   • It is also a critical military flashpoint, particularly due to the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan.

2. Islands in the Strait:

   • The Kinmen and Matsu Islands are located on the Fujian coast (administered by China), while the Penghu (or Pescadores), Xiamen, and Pingtan Islands lie on the Taiwan side.

   • Penghu is the largest and most populous island in the Taiwan Strait.

3. Political and Military Tensions:

   • The Taiwan Strait is often a site of military confrontations or maneuvers, especially with the involvement of China and Taiwan, and occasionally the United States, as well as regional allies like Canada and Australia.

   • China claims Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite Taiwan’s democratic governance and separate political system, which continues to fuel tensions in the region.

4. Environmental and Economic Importance:

   • The strait is a key fishing ground, home to numerous fish species, some of which are economically important to the region.

   • The waterway also facilitates trade, with major ports such as Amoy (mainland China) and Kao-hsiung (Taiwan) being vital to regional economies.

Significance of the Taiwan Strait in Global Politics

1. U.S. and Allied Presence:

   • The U.S. regularly conducts freedom-of-navigation operations (FONOPs) in the Taiwan Strait, asserting that it is an international waterway. Canada and Australia have also participated in such operations, much to the ire of China.

   • The strait is frequently a flashpoint for international tensions, particularly when military vessels or aircraft pass through it.

2. China-Taiwan Relations:

   • China views any foreign military activity in the strait, especially near Taiwan, as interference in its internal affairs, seeing it as a challenge to its sovereignty over Taiwan.

   • Taiwan, on the other hand, views such military passages as a sign of international support for its democratic system and a counterbalance to China’s growing assertiveness.

3. China's Military Activities:

   • China frequently conducts military drills near the Taiwan Strait, sending a signal to both Taiwan and the international community of its military dominance and its ongoing push to assert control over the region.

4. Potential for Conflict:

   • The Taiwan Strait is one of the most vulnerable flashpoints for potential military conflict in Asia. Tensions are high due to the sensitive political situation surrounding Taiwan and China’s territorial claims.