Taiwan says China Coast Guard patrols disrupt shipping east of Taiwan
Two Chinese coast guard vessels were involved in the recent patrols, Reuters reported; Taiwan has deployed ships to monitor the activity and raised concerns about navigational safety and regional tensions.
Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Nov. 1 that the China Coast Guard had recently conducted patrols in waters east of Taiwan and used radio communications to assert jurisdiction to vessels at sea. Taiwan views the actions as an attempt to expand China's maritime law-enforcement presence and has dispatched coast guard vessels to monitor the activity and safeguard navigational safety in the area.
Reuters reported that two Chinese coast guard vessels were involved in the patrols. Chinese state media broadcast a coast guard vessel transmitting an enforcement message by radio and saying it could provide assistance if necessary, but did not specify who was meant to receive the message. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration criticized China for asserting jurisdiction over vessels at sea via radio, calling the move maritime harassment that could further heighten regional tensions.
Taiwan said the waters east of the island are an important maritime transport area. If a blockade or conflict were to occur in the Taiwan Strait, the routes could also become vital channels for Taiwan and its external allies to maintain the flow of supplies. The Coast Guard Administration stressed that Taiwan enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the relevant exclusive economic zones and rejects China's jurisdictional claims over waters surrounding Taiwan.
The Coast Guard Administration also said that China Coast Guard vessels had recently approached waters around the Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Islands. Taiwan has driven away Chinese coast guard vessels from the waters around Dongsha 13 times so far this year. The Dongsha Islands are in the northern South China Sea, more than 400 kilometers from Taiwan proper, and occupy an important strategic position.
China has continued to increase its coast guard patrols in waters east of Taiwan in recent months. Taiwanese officials have said such operations could involve coordinated action by military, paramilitary and civilian vessels, prompting concern that China may be rehearsing a maritime blockade. Regional security observers are expected to continue monitoring developments at sea.