Taiwan coast guard chief says island must run its own maritime surveys

Speaking at a sea drone forum in the southern city of Tainan, Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which runs the Coast Guard, said Taiwan's resources, energy and the transport of supplies all depend on the ocean. "Taiwan also sits on one of the most important shipping routes in the global supply chain," she said. "Therefore, protecting these waters concerns not only the daily lives of Taiwan's people but also global economic development."

Kuan said Taiwan faces many challenges, "including the threat of grey-zone harassment", a term for activity that stops short of outright combat but is designed to pressure and wear out an adversary's forces. She said the Coast Guard needs more equipment and more comprehensive intelligence to spot threats earlier and respond more effectively. "We maintain that Taiwan's ocean must be surveyed by ourselves, and that we must master our own information," she said.

Taiwan has complained of a stepped-up campaign by China to assert sovereignty and jurisdiction claims over its waters using both Coast Guard and scientific research ships. China recognises no sovereignty claims by Taiwan. China said on Saturday it had sent another Coast Guard patrol into the waters off Taiwan's east coast, and Taiwan has reported several incidents in 2025 of Chinese research ships sailing near the island. China's military also operates around Taiwan on an almost daily basis.

Taiwan's government says China has no jurisdiction over any of its waters and that China is in breach of international law by trying to prove otherwise with its patrols. Taiwan also says China has been harassing merchant shipping with radio messages in waters that are not under Chinese jurisdiction. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, but says it would prefer "peaceful reunification".