Chinese military operations occur nearly every day around Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory. However, China has started utilizing its coast guard to assert its territorial claims, which Taiwan describes as ”lawfare,” attempting to provide a legal justification for Chinese actions.
According to a statement from China’s Coast Guard, the fleet will conduct ”law enforcement patrols” in the region, emphasizing the enhancement of these patrols in what it refers to as China’s jurisdictional waters.
The coast guard aims to ”firmly safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” it further stated.
Second patrol in a month
Taiwan’s Coast Guard reported that it was monitoring two Chinese vessels and had positioned two of its own to sail alongside and keep an eye on them.
By mid-morning, the two Chinese ships were located 54 nautical miles east of Taiwan’s Hualien, which holds a significant air base, yet they remained outside restricted waters, according to a statement issued.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard declared it would ”continue to employ all necessary measures to forcefully expel Chinese vessels harassing our waters, steadfastly defend national sovereignty, and ensure the security of our maritime domains.”
This marks the second occasion in about a month that China, which sees democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, has dispatched coast guard ships into the waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast. This continues to elevate a diplomatic dispute that has involved the U.S., France, Germany, and Britain.
The initial operation in June was cited by China as a response to Japan and the Philippines announcing they would begin formal discussions regarding their maritime boundaries, which Beijing interpreted as involving Chinese waters near Taiwan.
On Wednesday, Taiwan urged its vessels off the east coast to disregard any boarding and inspection demands from China’s Coast Guard, stating that Taiwanese Coast Guard ships would intervene if necessary to prevent such actions.
China does not recognize any sovereignty claims by Taiwan. Conversely, Taiwan asserts that China has no right to claim sovereignty or jurisdiction over the island or its surrounding waters.
On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released a document in English that it referred to as a ”legal opinion” concerning the Japan-Philippines maritime boundary discussions.
The document suggested that the two nations should engage in dialogue with China on this matter and not with Taiwan, asserting that ”all other states shall refrain from providing assistance to Japan and the Philippines.”
