Key facts
- China has launched coast guard patrols east of Taiwan.
- The patrols are described as 'law enforcement patrols' in what China calls its jurisdictional waters.
- Taiwan's Coast Guard has deployed vessels to monitor and expel Chinese ships.
- This marks the second instance of China sending Coast Guard ships to these waters in approximately one month.
- Taiwan has instructed its ships to disregard any boarding or inspection demands from China's Coast Guard.
China announced on Saturday that its Coast Guard has commenced patrols east of Taiwan, a move that replaces a naval task force whose presence near the island had previously caused alarm in Taipei and some Western nations. The Chinese Coast Guard stated that the fleet would conduct "law enforcement patrols" in the area, reinforcing such activities in waters it considers its own.
In response, Taiwan's Coast Guard confirmed the deployment of monitoring vessels, vowing to "use all necessary measures to forcefully expel Chinese vessels harassing our waters." This action represents the second time within approximately a month that China, which asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, has directed its Coast Guard ships into the waters off Taiwan's east coast. This escalation risks intensifying a diplomatic dispute that has involved the United States, France, Germany, and Britain.
The previous operation in June was reportedly a response to maritime boundary talks announced by Japan and the Philippines, which Beijing interpreted as encroaching upon Chinese waters near Taiwan. Taiwan had previously stated that its ships operating off the east coast should disregard any boarding and inspection demands from China's Coast Guard, with Taiwanese vessels prepared to intervene if necessary.