Beijing ramps up maritime patrols around Taiwan, prompting Taipei to shadow ships
Beijing has stepped up its maritime presence around Taiwan, deploying coastguard patrols from the island’s eastern approaches to waters near Quemoy and remote Dongsha Island. Chinese coastguard spokesman Jiang Lue said on Saturday that a formation led by the vessel Hushi carried out routine law enforcement patrols east of Taiwan to reinforce administrative control and safeguard maritime…
Beijing has intensified its maritime patrols around Taiwan, deploying coastguard vessels to monitor waters near Taiwan-controlled islands such as Dongsha Island (Pratas Island) and Quemoy (Kinmen). The Chinese coastguard claims these patrols are for administrative control and to ensure orderly navigation, while Taiwan views them as an attempt to create a "fictional administrative presence" that undermines regional peace and stability.
The incidents have heightened concerns in Taipei and Washington about Beijing's growing use of maritime law enforcement assets, rather than relying on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for pressure. Taiwan has responded by deploying patrol vessels to shadow Chinese formations and engaging in close stand-offs with Chinese vessels, sometimes operating within a mere one nautical mile of the Chinese vessels.
Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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