Taiwan has instructed its ships to ignore any boarding and inspection demands by China’s Coast Guard, with Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels prepared to intervene if necessary.
Background
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, sent Coast Guard ships into the waters off Taiwan’s east coast last month for a ‘special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation.’ This move was in response to Japan and the Philippines announcing formal talks on their maritime boundaries, which China claims involve its waters off Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard deputy head, Hsieh Ching-chin, advised ships to notify the Taiwanese Coast Guard and not respond to Chinese vessels’ boarding inspections. If the situation is urgent, Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels will intervene to separate the ships.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. China has repeatedly stated that the waters around Taiwan are Chinese and that Taipei has no sovereignty of its own.
Taiwan said Chinese coast guard ships ‘harassed’ commercial shipping by asking for information about their point of origin and destination, claiming jurisdiction. In 2024, Chinese coast guard personnel briefly boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat near Taiwan-controlled islands next to China’s coast.
China’s patrols off Taiwan’s east coast have prompted concern from the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
