Full Breakdown
China’s Traffic-Control Order for the Taiwan Strait During Typhoon Dolphin
8/9/2026, 2:57:03 AM
Core Event
On August 5, Chinese state media announced that, beginning the night of August 6, vessels travelling north through the southern entrance of the Taiwan Strait must obey traffic-control measures. The directive requires ships to seek safe waters, shelter from the storm and follow instructions from on-site maritime-management authorities. The order was issued in response to the approach of Typhoon Dolphin, which was tracking north of Taiwan and was expected to make landfall on China’s east coast late on August 7 or early August 8.
Background & Context
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and claims sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait, a key conduit for billions of dollars of global trade each year. Taiwan and the United States reject that claim, asserting that the strait’s waters lie outside any nation’s territorial limits under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Chinese order therefore represents an attempt to extend Beijing’s regulatory reach into waters that the international community treats as international navigation routes.
Official Statements & Responses
- The MAC framed the move as a breach of international law and an attempt to use the typhoon as a pretext for asserting control.
- Coast Guard Administration (CGA) – The CGA emphasized that waters more than 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from either coast are not territorial waters, and therefore freedom of navigation applies. It reported no abnormal Chinese vessel movements and no cargo-ship complaints of broadcast interference, urging merchant vessels to disregard any Chinese radio instructions and to report any incidents immediately.
- Chinese State Media – The announcement described the measures as necessary for safety, urging all vessels to comply with on-site maritime authorities to ensure “safety at sea.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The unreasonable and crude statement by the relevant Chinese Communist departments reflects an ignorance, disregard, and trampling of international order and norms. It is utterly ridiculous!” — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council
- “Taiwan’s affairs need no meddling from the Chinese communists.” — The Coast Guard Administration
Data & Statistics
- The CGA confirmed that no “abnormal movements” by Chinese vessels were detected during the period in question.
- No shipping companies reported being subjected to “broadcast interference” from Chinese authorities.
What’s Next
The typhoon’s projected landfall on China’s east coast late on August 7 or early August 8 remains the primary weather concern for vessels in the region.
