Key facts
- China sent a flotilla, including its largest patrol vessel, east of Taiwan.
- The deployment follows maritime boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines.
- The flotilla is expected to conduct joint patrols with a previously dispatched coastguard formation.
- China's official newspaper accused Japan and the Philippines of territorial disputes with Beijing.
Beijing has responded to recent Japan-Philippine maritime boundary negotiations by sending a flotilla, including mainland China's largest patrol vessel, to waters east of Taiwan. These Ministry of Transport ships are anticipated to conduct joint patrols with a coastguard formation that was dispatched to the same area last Monday. The Communist Party's official newspaper, People's Daily, published commentary on Sunday accusing Japan and the Philippines of having existing territorial disputes with Beijing. This action by China appears to be a direct response to the perceived testing of its boundaries by the defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.