TAIPEI: Taiwan’s coast guard said its vessels were engaged in a “standoff” with Chinese ships on Sunday after Beijing launched what it described as a special maritime law enforcement operation in waters southeast of the self-governed island.
The confrontation followed China’s criticism of planned maritime boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines in waters east of Taiwan. Beijing condemned the talks as “illegal” and reiterated its claim of authority over the surrounding waters.
According to Taiwan’s coast guard, four Chinese vessels entered the island’s restricted waters but were subsequently “expelled.” The ships later remained approximately 33 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan’s southernmost point, where vessels from both sides continued to monitor one another.
“Vessels from both sides are still in a standoff,” Taiwan’s coast guard said, while also condemning Beijing’s actions. It accused China of using the Japan-Philippines negotiations as a pretext to create the appearance of maritime jurisdiction over the area.
Taiwan has deployed seven patrol vessels to strengthen surveillance and monitor Chinese activities. Taipei has also argued that it should be consulted regarding any maritime boundary discussions affecting waters near the island.
The tensions arose after Japan and the Philippines announced last month that they would begin formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, a move that drew objections from Beijing.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that the country’s transport ministry had directed maritime law enforcement agencies from Fujian and Guangdong provinces to conduct a “special maritime traffic law enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan Island.” However, Chinese authorities did not provide details about the duration or scope of the operation.
According to Xinhua, the operation was “a necessary action taken against Japan and the Philippines’ unilateral announcement they would start ‘negotiations on delimiting a maritime boundary’” near Taiwan.
The latest incident comes amid broader regional tensions involving China’s maritime claims. Beijing and Tokyo continue to face disputes in the East China Sea, where coast guard vessels from both countries frequently encounter one another in contested waters.
China has also intensified its activities in the South China Sea, where it claims large portions of the strategically important waterway. Its coast guard and naval vessels have repeatedly confronted Philippine ships near disputed reefs and islands.
Separately, Taiwan’s coast guard reported that a Chinese survey vessel had joined a coast guard ship near Pratas Island in the northern South China Sea. Taiwanese authorities described it as “the first observed instance of Chinese coast guard and survey vessels acting in coordination to provoke Taiwan.”
While Taiwan administers Pratas Island, Beijing also claims sovereignty over it as part of its broader territorial claims in the region.
