TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four Chinese coast guard vessels entered restricted waters near Kinmen twice Tuesday, returning about four hours after a morning incursion.
The Coast Guard said it detected the same vessels in the area again in the afternoon. The vessels split into two groups, one heading east and the other west.
Taiwan deployed patrol boats to monitor each vessel and broadcast warnings urging them to leave the area. All four vessels departed Kinmen’s restricted waters about two hours later.
The vessels had earlier entered the restricted waters southwest of Da Mao Shan in the morning before leaving two hours later. The Coast Guard said the repeated incursions were part of China’s efforts to test Taiwan’s response capabilities.
The agency accused China of using purported law-enforcement operations to expand its jurisdictional claims and broadcast unification propaganda. It said the actions sought to create the false impression that Beijing has jurisdiction over waters around Kinmen.
