US team sent to Taiwan to train coastguards amid surge in mainland Chinese activity

The United States has dispatched a team of coastguards to Taiwan, where they are undertaking a two-week training program for their Taiwanese counterparts. The initiative, which commenced on Monday, focuses on enhancing small-boat operations and team coordination skills, according to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration. The administration stated that the aim of the training is to strengthen the partnership between the two nations and promote maritime security and stability.

The US instruction team emphasized the importance of not only honing boat-handling skills but also improving teamwork, on-the-spot judgment, and the ability to respond to emergencies. Recently, the American Institute in Taiwan released content demonstrating the close and steady cooperation between the US and Taiwan in maritime security and law enforcement.

In recent months, mainland China has intensified its coastguard activities in the eastern waters surrounding Taiwan. Following the launch of talks between Japan and the Philippines on June 1 to delineate their exclusive economic zones and maritime boundaries, Beijing deemed these negotiations as an infringement on its maritime rights and territorial sovereignty.

China, which views Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, has vowed to employ force if necessary to achieve reunification. While most countries, including the US and allies Japan and the Philippines, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, the US remains committed to supplying Taiwan with weapons and opposing any attempt to take the island by force.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the number of People’s Liberation Army aircraft detected around Taiwan in the first half of the year decreased by half compared to the same period last year. Conversely, the activities of Chinese coast guard vessels, survey ships, and other government vessels around Taiwan increased significantly, with 252 recorded incidents in the first half of the year, representing an 89% rise compared to the second half of the previous year.

In August, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration announced traffic controls for vessels navigating north through the southern entrance of the Taiwan Strait due to concerns from Typhoon Dolphin. The latest training program covers boat handling, risk handling, maneuvers with other vessels, and rescue operations. The primary objective is to train instructors who can impart knowledge to their units, thereby broadening the benefits of the training and establishing a foundation for long-term, regular professional exchanges.