Beijing has started a new phase in its campaign to exert pressure on Taiwan by dispatching two vessels to patrol the waters east of the island. This move emphasizes China’s claim, not only over Taiwan but also over the surrounding seas.
On Saturday, the China Coast Guard announced that its vessels would carry out “law-enforcement patrols” in the Western Pacific waters located east of Taiwan. Taiwan, home to 23 million individuals, is claimed by Beijing as its territory.
The Western Pacific is bustling with commercial activity and would play a critical role if China attempts to blockade or invade Taiwan. China’s coast guard vessels are typically large and well-armed, supporting the nation’s naval forces. These vessels are essential to Beijing’s dominance strategies in the disputed South China Sea, often engaging in activities like crowding waters, ramming other vessels, or using powerful water cannons against crews.
According to the China Coast Guard, their ships will “continue to strengthen law-enforcement patrols in waters under China’s jurisdiction and firmly safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
By Sunday, the two coast guard vessels, Xiushan and Chongming, had positioned themselves 80 to 140 miles off Taiwan’s east coast, as noted by Ou Yu-fei from Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration.
Though Chinese coast guard vessels have previously operated east of Taiwan, including during military exercises, the current patrols are different due to their increased intensity, coordination, and political declarations. Ray Powell, the director of SeaLight and a former U.S. Air Force officer, highlighted this shift, indicating it as a crucial development in China’s maritime pressure tactics against neighboring countries.