China Puts the Squeeze on Taiwan With New Maritime Patrols East of Island

China is expanding its maritime presence in waters east of Taiwan, deploying its coastguard and civilian fleet in a move that analysts fear could be a rehearsal for a containment strategy. This increased activity, occurring through June and July, involves "special maritime law enforcement operations" and patrols in areas previously less frequented by Chinese vessels, raising alarms in Taipei.

While China regularly patrols the Taiwan Strait, the shift of operations to the waters east of Taiwan marks a significant strategic and symbolic escalation. K Tristan Tang, a nonresident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, explained that Beijing appears intent on extending its claimed administrative jurisdiction to Taiwan's eastern waters. This approach aims to surround the self-ruled island rather than solely focusing on eroding its space within the strait.

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Beijing is signalling that it wants to extend its claimed administrative jurisdiction to Taiwan’s eastern waters, effectively surrounding Taiwan rather than only eroding Taiwan’s space in the strait.

Taiwan has reported a notable increase in Chinese maritime activity around its territory. In June, Taiwan documented 55 sightings of Chinese coastguard and research vessels, up from 30 in May. This surge includes activity near the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea. China's Maritime Safety Administration stated that these law enforcement activities are intended to "firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Beijing has framed these operations as a response to maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines, which China claims infringe upon its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The overlapping Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines in the region add complexity to the geopolitical landscape. China asserts that Taiwan's EEZ falls under its own jurisdiction, alongside claims in the South China and East China Seas that are disputed by several neighboring countries.

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firmly safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests