China's coast guard patrols east of Taiwan raise regional tensions

Tensions are escalating in the waters east of Taiwan as China's Coast Guard initiates regular patrols, prompting Taiwan to deploy its own vessels for surveillance. China claims these waters as its "jurisdictional waters," a move Taiwan vehemently opposes, labeling it an "illegal expansion of authority" and "cognitive warfare."

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China's Coast Guard is continuing law enforcement patrols in the waters east of China's Taiwan island.

The patrols, led by the Chinese Coast Guard vessel Shoushan, are presented by Beijing as measures to protect the rights and interests of fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. However, this marks a significant shift, extending China's assertive maritime presence beyond the Taiwan Strait into the Pacific Ocean. This development coincides with ongoing negotiations between Japan and the Philippines to define overlapping exclusive economic zones in waters east of Taiwan, a process China claims violates international law as it considers Taiwan its territory.

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration is closely monitoring the Chinese patrols using intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets. Chinese Coast Guard ships were observed navigating approximately 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan, outside Taiwan's designated 27-nautical mile restricted zone. In response, Taiwan has dispatched its Coast Guard vessels, including the Pali and Hualien, to maintain a close watch.

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Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, and the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China do not subordinate to each other.

Taiwan perceives China's use of coast guard and maritime survey ships as a "gray zone" tactic to strengthen its claims without resorting to naval vessels. The Taiwanese Coast Guard has warned its vessels not to comply with Chinese boarding or inspection demands and has stated it will intervene if necessary. China reported inspecting 198 vessels and identifying violations on three of them during a recent operation in the area. Taiwan maintains that China holds no sovereign rights in these eastern waters, asserting its status as a sovereign and independent nation and vowing to use "all necessary means" to repel Chinese vessels encroaching on its waters.

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We will mobilize all necessary means to strongly expel Chinese vessels that harass our waters.