Chinese Coast Guard Incident near Taiwan
Four Chinese coast guard ships briefly sailed through Taiwan’s “prohibited” waters, prompting Taipei to urge Beijing to cease actions that jeopardize navigation safety. China asserts territorial claims over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over the island.
Violation of Prohibited Waters
The Chinese ships entered waters south of Taiwan’s outlying island of Kinmen, located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, around 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Taiwan’s coast guard confirmed that the ships left the prohibited waters about an hour later, emphasizing the need for Beijing to halt activities that endanger navigation safety.
Escalation of Tensions
China has escalated its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including increased sorties of aircraft and naval vessels near the island. This incident occurred just two weeks before the upcoming inauguration of Taiwan’s new leader, Lai Ching-te, who shares the stance of his predecessor in rejecting China’s territorial claims.
Concerns and Responses
Beijing has labeled Lai as a “dangerous separatist” and threatened to intensify patrols around Kinmen, which is under Taipei’s administration. Recent fatal fishing accidents involving Chinese vessels near Kinmen have further strained relations between the two sides, with accusations and counter-accusations regarding the incidents.
Enhanced Coast Guard Support
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has announced plans to enhance support for the coast guard, particularly in terms of surveillance and reconnaissance to monitor Chinese vessels entering restricted waters. Despite concerns about potential disruptions to the shipping of supplies to Taiwan’s offshore islands, officials have expressed confidence in ensuring regional security.