TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four China coast guard vessels entered restricted waters near Kinmen on Monday, prompting Taiwan's Coast Guard to deploy patrol boats and issue warnings.
The Coast Guard said the vessels entered the restricted waters at 3 p.m., and its patrol boats shadowed them. It said warnings were broadcast until all four vessels departed at 5 p.m.
The agency said the incident followed a Chinese coast guard intrusion into restricted waters near the Dongsha Islands on Saturday, where one of its patrol vessels also ordered a Chinese ship to leave. It accused China of using coast guard operations to assert jurisdiction over Taiwan-controlled waters.
The US, the UK, Germany, and France expressed concern last week over China's actions, which they said undermine regional stability, threaten international shipping, and raise tensions.
