Key facts
- China is using militia vessels to expand "battlefield preparation" around Taiwan and into the western Pacific.
- Taiwan's Coast Guard warned these operations also pressure Japan and the Philippines.
- A suspected militia fishing boat, Minfudingyu 07902, came within 2.7 nautical miles of Taiwan's restricted waters on August 16.
- China has increased such activity since June in overlapping economic waters involving Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines.
China is combining militia vessels with coast guard ships to expand "battlefield preparation" around Taiwan and into the western Pacific, Taiwan's Coast Guard said on October 23. The operations also put pressure on Japan and the Philippines, according to the coast guard's statement to Reuters.
The coast guard confirmed details of a suspected Chinese militia fishing boat, Minfudingyu 07902, operating alongside a Chinese coast guard ship and a research vessel. The boat came as close as about 2.7 nautical miles outside Taiwan's restricted waters on August 16.