Key facts
- Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo labeled Chinese Coast Guard patrols east of Taiwan as a 'provocative act' and 'cognitive warfare.'
- China deployed ships for a 'special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation' east of Taiwan.
- Taiwan's Coast Guard expelled four Chinese government ships from restricted waters after issuing warnings.
- Taiwan's military will coordinate with the Coast Guard to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime security.
- Koo stated China is attempting to claim these eastern waters as its own domain, which he considers an affront to Taiwan's sovereignty.
Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo has characterized Chinese Coast Guard patrols to the east of the island as a "provocative act" and a form of "cognitive warfare." He stated that the military will work closely with Taiwan's Coast Guard to respond to these actions and safeguard national sovereignty and maritime security. China had previously announced that ships were sent to conduct a "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" in the waters east of Taiwan. This operation was presented as a response to Japan and the Philippines beginning formal talks on delimiting their maritime boundaries, which China views as involving waters off Taiwan. Taiwan's Coast Guard confirmed it had sent its own vessels to warn away the Chinese ships and subsequently "expelled" them from restricted waters. Koo further elaborated that China is attempting to claim these eastern waters as its own domain, which he considers a serious affront to Taiwan's sovereignty. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Taiwanese military maintains continuous intelligence sharing and a division of responsibilities with the Coast Guard. While Taiwan's Navy typically shadows and warns Chinese Navy ships, the Coast Guard is responsible for monitoring Chinese Coast Guard vessels and would play an auxiliary role in wartime. Chinese warplanes and warships frequently operate around Taiwan, and Taiwan is also monitoring an extended mission by the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Western Pacific, currently located east of the Philippines. China has not renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, a claim rejected by Taiwan's government. Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, wrote on Facebook that China had launched a month-long campaign of "escalating provocations" since early May, including operations around the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands and sending a research ship into waters near Taiwan.