Taiwan Deploys Coast Guard Vessels After Chinese Maritime Operation Near Island

Taiwan’s coast guard said Sunday it had deployed patrol vessels to monitor and respond to a Chinese maritime operation in waters east of the self-ruled island, accusing Beijing of violating international law and escalating tensions in the region.

The move followed a Chinese “law enforcement operation” announced by state media on Saturday, which Beijing said was a response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to begin formal talks on delimiting maritime boundaries in nearby waters. China condemned those talks as “illegal,” asserting exclusive rights over the area and reiterating its claim over Taiwan.

Taiwan said it had tracked four Chinese government vessels departing from Xiamen and sailing near, but outside, its restricted waters southwest of the island. In response, Taipei dispatched more than five coast guard vessels to conduct surveillance and monitor the Chinese ships, which were expected to enter the relevant waters on Sunday.

Rejecting Beijing’s claims, Taiwan’s coast guard stressed that China holds no sovereign rights over waters east of Taiwan and vowed to safeguard the island’s maritime interests.

The dispute comes amid growing regional friction over competing territorial claims. Japan and the Philippines announced last month that they would launch formal negotiations to define the maritime boundary between their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing.

Chinese state media said the operation was carried out by maritime police units from Fujian and Guangdong provinces and described it as a necessary response to what it called the unilateral actions of Tokyo and Manila. However, authorities provided few details about the mission.

Taiwan has insisted it should be consulted on any maritime boundary discussions affecting waters near the island. Meanwhile, concerns over Chinese activity have intensified after Taipei reported that a Chinese survey vessel had joined a coast guard ship near Pratas Island in the northern South China Sea. Taiwanese officials described it as the first observed instance of coordinated operations between Chinese coast guard and survey vessels aimed at pressuring Taiwan.

The developments highlight the increasingly complex maritime disputes involving China, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines across the East and South China Seas, where territorial claims continue to fuel diplomatic and military tensions.