TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four Chinese coast guard vessels entered restricted waters near Kinmen on Tuesday, prompting the Coast Guard to deploy patrol boats and issue warnings.
The Coast Guard said the vessels entered restricted waters southwest of Da Mao Shan in the morning, and its patrol boats shadowed them. It said warnings were broadcast until all four vessels departed two hours later.
The agency accused China of using purported law-enforcement operations to expand its jurisdictional claims, create pressure at sea, and broadcast unification propaganda. It said the actions sought to create the false impression that Beijing has jurisdiction over waters around Kinmen.
The Coast Guard said it would neither provoke nor back down while strengthening surveillance and maritime operations. It said it would take necessary measures to counter China's cognitive warfare efforts and safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty.
