TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned China for planning a maritime “law enforcement operation” east of Taiwan and said Beijing has no legal authority in the area.
China’s transport ministry announced Friday night that it would begin what it called a special maritime law enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China later sent coast guard vessels to carry out illegal activities in the area.
The ministry said China has no right to claim law enforcement powers in waters east of Taiwan for any reason. It said Beijing also has no right to use possible maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines as an excuse to expand its claims around Taiwan.
The ministry said Taiwan will not accept any attempt by China to make such patrols and law enforcement activities routine. It said China’s actions undermine regional peace and stability and challenge the international order.
The Coast Guard Administration said Sunday that China’s move was part of its growing gray-zone tactics. It said China was trying to create a false impression of control and change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
The Coast Guard said it detected four Chinese government vessels on Sunday, including Haixun 06, Haixun 08, Haixun 09, and Donghai Rescue 113. The vessels left Xiamen and sailed toward waters southwest of Taiwan, near the outer edge of Taiwan’s restricted waters, CNA reported.
The Coast Guard said it sent five vessels to monitor the Chinese ships and deployed 100-tonne patrol boats to support the operation. It said all Chinese vessels stayed outside Taiwan’s restricted waters, and navigation nearby remained normal.
The Coast Guard said it will continue to monitor Chinese vessels through AI-powered surveillance and reconnaissance systems. It said it will respond to any action that threatens Taiwan’s maritime rights or safety.
