Key facts
- China's Ministry of Natural Resources conducted a survey of waters east of Taiwan between August 10 and August 31.
- The survey aimed to understand the basic geology and structural characteristics of the seabed.
- Taiwan's coast guard had previously warned off and shadowed a Chinese research ship in sensitive waters near the island.
- China's coast guard also announced it conducted routine law enforcement patrols in the waters east of Taiwan on Thursday.
China's Ministry of Natural Resources conducted a survey of waters east of Taiwan last month, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The survey, which took place from August 10 to 31, aimed to understand the basic geology and structural characteristics of the seabed within China's jurisdictional sea areas. This comes after Taiwan's coast guard reported warning off and shadowing a Chinese research ship in sensitive waters near the island on August 21, the third such appearance since May. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Additionally, China's coast guard announced it conducted routine law enforcement patrols in the waters east of Taiwan on Thursday, marking the third such patrol since June.