Chinese Coast Guard Patrols Near Taipei-Controlled Kinmen Archipelago

China's Coast Guard carried out new 'routine law enforcement patrols' in waters adjacent to the Kinmen archipelago. This group of islands is administered by Taiwan but lies just kilometers off the coast of China's southeastern Fujian province.

Zhu Anqing, a spokesperson for the East China Sea division of the Coast Guard, stated that Fujian-based units conducted the operation. While the exact number of participating vessels and the duration of the maneuvers were not specified, Zhu indicated that these patrols aim to continuously strengthen control over the area's waters.

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reinforce of continuous control over the waters of the area and protect the legitimate rights and interests, as well as the life and property of fishermen from both sides of the strait.

The stated objectives include protecting the legitimate rights and interests, as well as the lives and property, of fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The operations also seek to ensure normal navigation and activity in the waters between Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian, and Kinmen.

This action is part of a broader pattern of increased activity by China's Coast Guard around territories administered by Taipei, including Kinmen, the Pratas Islands, and waters east of Taiwan's main island. These episodes contribute to growing disputes over maritime jurisdiction, as Beijing considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory.

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guarantee the normal order of navigation and activities in the waters between Xiamen, Fujian province, and Kinmen.