Taiwan Expresses Concern to Beijing Over China's Maritime Operations East of Island

Taipei has conveyed its "concern" and "dissatisfaction" to Beijing over China's recent maritime activities east of Taiwan, utilizing third-party nations and existing private channels for communication. Shen Yu-chung, Taiwan's Vice Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), confirmed these indirect diplomatic efforts on Monday, as reported by the CNA news agency.

These statements emerge against a backdrop of escalating tensions, with China having deployed a significant number of coast guard and government vessels in waters east of the island since June. Taiwan's coast guard reports that Chinese official ships have operated within Taipei's claimed exclusive economic zone, at times ordering merchant vessels to leave the area.

Shen emphasized that Taiwan is managing the presence of Chinese vessels by "avoiding escalation" beyond its 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, while firmly maintaining its "sovereignty" within that area. He characterized China's radio "controls" over transiting ships as largely "symbolic" gestures to assert jurisdiction. However, he cautioned that any attempt by China to inspect or board fishing or commercial vessels would constitute a grave escalation.

Formal communication between Taipei and Beijing has been largely suspended since 2016, following the return to power of Taiwan's pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party. Beijing considers Taiwan an "inalienable part" of China and has not ruled out the use of force, a stance rejected by Taiwan's government, which asserts the island's 23 million inhabitants alone have the right to decide their political future.

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