TAIPEI, June 7 (Reuters) – On Sunday, Taiwan's coast guard reported that they successfully "expelled" four Chinese government ships that entered restricted waters near the southern part of the island. This incident foll...
TAIPEI, June 7 (Reuters) – On Sunday, Taiwan's coast guard reported that they successfully "expelled" four Chinese government ships that entered restricted waters near the southern part of the island. This incident followed a series of sharp warnings exchanged between the two sides, marking an escalation in tensions.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, expressed anger after Japan and the Philippines announced last month that they would begin formal discussions to establish their maritime boundaries. China views this as affecting waters related to Taiwan.
On Saturday night, Chinese state media reported that ships were dispatched to conduct a "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" in waters east of Taiwan due to the recent announcements from Japan and the Philippines.
Taiwan's coast guard stated that four Chinese ships, including three coast guard vessels, entered Taiwan's restricted waters, located 30 nautical miles southwest of the southern tip of the island, on Sunday afternoon.
In response, Taiwan deployed seven coast guard vessels to warn the Chinese ships. By late afternoon on Sunday, all four Chinese vessels were "expelled" from the restricted area, according to a statement from Taiwan’s coast guard.
They also released a recording of a Chinese officer warning Taiwanese ships, in which the officer stated, "These are waters under Chinese jurisdiction. Our maritime law-enforcement team is conducting a special traffic law-enforcement mission in the Taiwan Strait. Do not interfere with our official duties."
A Taiwanese coast guard officer responded, asserting that China has no "sovereign rights" in the waters east of Taiwan. The officer added, "If conflict occurs, your side will face sanctions from the world. Only maritime stability can ensure your country's development."
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comments outside of office hours.
In recent weeks, Taiwan has observed an increase in Chinese coast guard activity, including confrontations near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea.
China's military routinely operates around Taiwan almost daily.
"The PRC is nothing but a big fat bully," said Joseph Wu, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council, in a post on X on Sunday, referring to the People's Republic of China.
China has never ruled out using force to assert control over Taiwan, while Taiwan's government firmly rejects Beijing's claims of sovereignty.