China, Taiwan clash over coast guard patrols east of island

Taiwan's maritime sovereignty cannot be violated by Chinese efforts to create a false impression of jurisdiction, the island's coast guard stated after China ended patrols east of its shores. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, initiated the patrols following maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines. Chinese state media reported that the patrols involved inspecting vessels, rectifying violations, conducting hydrographic surveys, and patrolling areas with undersea cables. Taiwan's coast guard asserted that Beijing has no jurisdiction in those waters and vowed to expel any country asserting such claims. China's Taiwan Affairs Office previously stated that such patrols are lawful acts to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights. Chinese maritime authorities also reported detecting suspected Japanese surveillance aircraft near Taiwan during the patrols.