Taiwan has reaffirmed its determination to protect its maritime sovereignty after China concluded a controversial patrol operation in waters east of the island, an area Taipei insists falls outside Beijing’s jurisdiction.
The dispute escalated after Chinese authorities dispatched vessels to conduct what state media described as a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” following an announcement by Japan and Philippines that they would begin formal discussions on maritime boundary issues.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, reportedly viewed the planned talks as involving waters surrounding the self-governed island.
Chinese state media said the patrol operation, which ended on Wednesday, involved inspections of 198 vessels, enforcement actions against three ships, hydrographic surveys and patrols around undersea cable routes.
In response, Taiwan’s coast guard rejected China’s claims, stressing that Beijing has no authority over the waters east of Taiwan and warning that any attempts to assert jurisdiction would be challenged.
Taiwanese authorities stated that coast guard vessels would continue to intercept and expel any ships seeking to enforce what they described as unlawful jurisdiction in the area.
“Our nation’s maritime sovereignty cannot be violated,” Taiwan’s coast guard said, adding that any vessel attempting to assert control would be removed regardless of nationality.
The situation intensified after Taiwan alleged that Chinese coast guard vessels had approached and questioned three merchant ships passing through the area, requesting information about their origins and destinations.
According to Taiwan Coast Guard spokesman Hsieh Ching-chin, some of the vessels responded by providing basic navigation details, including their next port of call.
However, he reiterated that China possesses no sovereign rights in the waters east of Taiwan and vowed that authorities would continue taking action to defend Taiwan’s maritime claims and ensure freedom of navigation.
The latest maritime dispute comes amid ongoing tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China regularly deploys military aircraft and naval vessels around Taiwan, while the Taiwanese government maintains that only the island’s people have the right to determine their future.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has repeatedly called for dialogue with Beijing, but Chinese authorities have rejected those overtures, continuing to label him a separatist.
The incident highlights the increasingly complex geopolitical tensions in the region, where competing territorial claims and strategic maritime interests continue to fuel friction between Taipei and Beijing.
