Taiwan says its sovereignty cannot be violated by China

Key facts

• Taiwan's coast guard asserted that its maritime sovereignty cannot be violated by Chinese actions.
• China conducted a coast guard patrol in waters east of Taiwan, inspecting 198 vessels.
• Taiwan reported that three passing merchant ships were harassed by Chinese coast guard vessels.
• Taiwan stated that any country asserting jurisdiction in its waters will be expelled.
• Two Chinese government ships briefly entered restricted waters near Itu Aba in the South China Sea.

Taiwan's coast guard stated that it will not tolerate Chinese efforts to create a false impression of jurisdiction over its waters, vowing to expel any challengers after China ended a patrol off its eastern shores. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, had initiated the patrol in response to Japan and the Philippines beginning formal talks on their maritime boundaries.

Chinese state media reported that the patrol, which inspected 198 vessels and rectified three violations, had concluded. Taiwan's coast guard asserted that Beijing has no jurisdiction in those waters and that Taiwanese vessels would forcefully drive away any Chinese ships appearing there to maintain freedom of navigation. "Our nation's maritime sovereignty cannot be violated," the coast guard said in a statement. "Any country that asserts jurisdiction will be expelled without exception."

Taiwan also reported that three passing merchant ships were harassed by the Chinese coast guard, which questioned them about their origin and destination. Separately, Taiwan's coast guard stated that two Chinese government ships briefly intruded into restricted waters near Itu Aba in the South China Sea, approaching within 2.1 nautical miles before leaving after being warned.

China recognizes no sovereignty claimed by Taiwan, and its forces operate around the island daily. Taiwan's government maintains that only its people can decide their future, and President Lai Ching-te has repeatedly offered talks with China, which Beijing has rebuffed, calling him a "separatist."