TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan said Chinese coast guard vessels had entered restricted waters around the Matsu Islands on Monday (Oct. 14) as part of the People’s Liberation Army’s Joint Sword-2024B exercises. 

The Taiwan Coast Guard’s Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch said via a release that four Chinese coast guard ships formed pairs and entered Taiwan-controlled waters 5.9 kilometers west of Nangan Island and 5.9 kilometers northwest of Dongyin Island at 8 a.m. The Coast Guard said it immediately dispatched its own vessels to drive the ships away.

The Coast Guard released a video of a crew on one of its ships asking two Chinese ships to immediately exit the waters around Matsu. The crew can be heard telling the Chinese vessel that appropriate measures would be taken if it did not adjust its course.

The Coast Guard statement said the actions of the Chinese boats were not conducive to reciprocal cross-strait relations. It called on China to recognize the importance of stability in the area. 

Earlier Monday, the Coast Guard said that it was monitoring four Chinese coast guard ships patrolling the waters around Taiwan-controlled territories. The Coast Guard did not say where they were observed but said they were marked with different numbers than those that entered the waters around Matsu.

The Mastu Islands are about 10 kilometers off the coast of China at their closest point. The PLA said the Joint Sword exercises would take place in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, south, and east of Taiwan for an undetermined length of time. 

Members of Taiwan's Coast Guard issue a warning to Chinese coast guard ships on Monday. (Coast Guard Administration photo)