Taiwan Deploys Coast Guard in Response to Chinese Operation East of the Island

Taipei, Taiwan — On Sunday, Taiwan's coast guard deployed vessels in response to a Chinese operation east of Taiwan. Four Chinese government vessels departed from Xiamen, prompting Taiwan to dispatch more than five coast guard ships for surveillance.

"This is not your waters. You don't belong here. Turn around and leave, now."
— Broadcast from Taiwan's coast guard to Chinese vessels, as posted by National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu

Taiwan Accuses China of Violating International Law

The Taiwanese coast guard stated that the Chinese operation "violates international law" and that it "has deployed the necessary vessels to respond appropriately."

In a formal statement, the coast guard added: "China does not enjoy any sovereign rights in the waters east of Taiwan."

Broader Maritime Tensions

The incident follows Beijing's launch of a "law enforcement operation" after Japan and the Philippines planned talks to delimit a maritime boundary, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.

China claims Taiwan as its territory, a claim Taipei firmly rejects. Tensions have escalated amid closer Japan-Philippines cooperation on maritime disputes. Last month, Japan and the Philippines agreed to begin talks to delimit an economic zone and continental shelf, drawing sharp criticism from China.

Coordinated Operation Near Pratas Islands

On Saturday, Taiwan reported that a Chinese coast guard ship and a survey ship conducted their first coordinated operation near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. Taipei described this as a deliberate provocation intended to create a "false illusion" of Chinese jurisdiction.

China has increased coast guard and navy deployments in the South China Sea in recent months, leading to a series of confrontations with the Philippines.