Taiwan monitors China coast guard ships ‘drifting’ east of the island
Taiwan said Friday it has deployed vessels to monitor two China Coast Guard ships east of the island, as Beijing asserts authority over an area of the Western Pacific. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and also insists that waters around the island democracy come under its jurisdiction, which Taipei rejects. Chinese ships […]
Taiwan has sent its naval vessels to keep an eye on two Chinese coast guard ships which have been observed drifting east of the island, according to a report released on Friday. China maintains territorial control over an expansive area of the Western Pacific, including the region surrounding Taiwan, a claim Taiwan vehemently denies.
The Chinese coast guard launched its patrols in the Western Pacific near Taiwan’s eastern coastline last month, which Taiwan labeled as "provocative" and a manifestation of "expansionism in disguise." On Friday, a Chinese state media outlet confirmed that the coast guard was conducting "routine law enforcement patrols in waters under China’s jurisdiction and resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," according to Jiang Lue, a spokesperson for the coast guard.
Taiwan’s coast guard reported that the two Chinese ships were found to be stationary and drifting separately, approximately 151 nautical miles (280 kilometers) east and 43 nautical miles northeast of Orchid Island, situated off the southeast coast of Taiwan. Taiwan’s coast guard described these Chinese patrols as "pseudo-law enforcement."
Taiwanese security officials have expressed concern over China's growing presence in regional waters, warning that "authoritarian expansionism" by China will continue unless the international community takes action. This salami-slicing approach, characterized by incremental encroachments, is a tactic frequently employed by China to challenge regional boundaries.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
