China has asserted that its vessels passing through the Tokara Strait have the right to transit and that their actions are entirely legitimate under international law. This statement was made by a foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday during a routine press briefing.

The remarks came in response to Japan's formal protest, which was lodged after one of China’s naval survey vessels reportedly entered Japanese waters on Saturday.

According to the foreign ministry spokesperson, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) clearly states that the Tokara Strait is designated for international navigation. The spokesperson emphasized that it is both lawful and legitimate for Chinese vessels to exercise their right to transit passage through the strait.

In a separate but related issue, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te addressed China's territorial claims on Taiwan during an interview with local media. He argued that if China's stance on Taiwan is based on territorial integrity, it should also consider reclaiming land from Russia that was ceded during the 19th century by the last Chinese dynasty.

China views Taiwan, a democratically governed island, as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under control. However, Taiwan's government firmly rejects these claims, maintaining that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their own future.

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