In brief
Taiwan’s coast guard accused China of harassing shipping off its east coast during a new patrol, citing radio messages and the presence of two Chinese ships. China regards the area as within its jurisdiction and has increased coast guard activity since June. The incident highlights rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the strategic importance of the eastern waters for allied supply routes.
On November 1, Taiwan’s Coast Guard announced that Chinese coast guard ships had been harassing vessels off the island’s east coast and seeking to assert jurisdiction over waters it considers part of its exclusive economic zone.
Chinese vessels had sent radio messages that the coast guard was carrying out “law enforcement” and offering help, footage of the broadcast showed an unidentified fishing trawler in the area, the Taiwanese said. The new patrol followed a pattern of increased coast guard activity in the eastern waters since June.
A spokesperson for Taiwan’s Coast Guard said:
Our country holds sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone east of Taiwan, and China has absolutely no jurisdiction over any of Taiwan’s waters.
In response, Taiwan deployed its own ships to monitor the situation and warned that China’s operations may be preparing for a potential maritime blockade. The Taiwanese coast guard said it had expelled Chinese vessels from the Pratas Islands—an uninhabited group of islands more than 400 kilometers from the mainland—thirteen times this year.
The Pratas Islands are seen as a strategic point for maritime traffic, with allies relying on the eastern route for supplies during a conflict. Taiwan’s coast guard sees the area as crucial for maintaining open supply lanes and protecting regional stability.
The incident underscores the growing friction between Taipei and Beijing. As Chinese coast guard patrols intensify, Taiwan’s government stresses its sovereignty and warns that the eastern waters could become a flash point for a larger confrontation.
