Taiwan Calls Chinese Patrols Provocative
Taiwan has accused China of carrying out a provocative act after Chinese Coast Guard ships conducted patrols in waters east of the island. Taipei said its military and Coast Guard would coordinate closely in response to the latest maritime activity.
Taiwan Condemns China Coast Guard Patrols
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the Chinese Coast Guard patrols were a provocative act and accused Beijing of using “cognitive warfare” to assert control over waters east of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard said it had sent ships to warn away the Chinese vessels after they entered restricted waters. The four Chinese ships later left the area in the early hours of Monday.
China Links Patrols To Maritime Boundary Talks
Chinese state media said the patrols were part of a special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation. The move came after Japan and the Philippines said they would begin formal talks on delimiting maritime boundaries.
Beijing views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and does not recognise Taiwan’s sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s government rejects China’s position and says Beijing has no right to operate in its waters.
Taiwan Tracks Wider Chinese Military Activity
Taiwanese officials said China has stepped up pressure in recent weeks, including operations near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands and the presence of a Chinese research ship near Taiwan.
Taiwan is also monitoring the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, which Defence Minister Koo said was operating in waters east of the Philippines. Chinese warplanes and warships continue to operate around Taiwan on an almost daily basis.
