Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in Chinese coast guard and government research vessel activity around the island, raising fresh concerns that Beijing is expanding its use of “grey zone” tactics to pressure Taipei without triggering open conflict.
According to Taiwan Coast Guard data, authorities recorded 55 sightings of Chinese government vessels including coast guard and research ships in waters surrounding Taiwan during June. That represents an 83% increase from May’s 30 sightings and more than double the 25 sightings recorded during the same month last year.
The figures exclude activity around Taiwan-controlled offshore islands located close to mainland China.
Taiwan Prepares for Possible Blockade Scenario
The surge in Chinese maritime activity has prompted Taiwan to prepare new exercises simulating efforts to keep vital Pacific supply routes open in the event of a Chinese blockade.
A senior Taiwan Coast Guard official said Taipei is planning joint drills with the navy to protect critical sea lanes connecting Taiwan with its international partners if tensions escalate.
“If the situation develops into a blockade—or what would effectively amount to a quasi-war—we have plans to work alongside the navy to safeguard Taiwan’s maritime lifelines,” the official said.
The official added that Taiwan has been preparing for such scenarios through both tabletop exercises and live operational drills.
China Increasingly Uses Coast Guard for Strategic Pressure
While the People’s Liberation Army continues near-daily military operations around Taiwan, Beijing has increasingly relied on its coast guard to reinforce its territorial claims.
Taiwanese officials describe the strategy as “lawfare”—using civilian maritime agencies and legal claims to gradually normalise Chinese jurisdiction over waters surrounding the self-governed island without direct military confrontation.
The growing use of coast guard vessels has also attracted concern from several Western countries, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany.
Former Warships Add to Taiwan’s Concerns
Taiwanese officials say some of China’s newest coast guard vessels were previously naval destroyers that have since been repainted and transferred to the coast guard.
Although carrying coast guard markings, these ships retain military-grade endurance and capabilities, making them far more formidable than conventional law enforcement vessels.
Officials said Chinese coast guard ships now frequently patrol in pairs just outside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone on the Pacific side of the island, stretching the resources of Taiwan’s much smaller coast guard fleet.
Pressure on Commercial Shipping
Taiwan also accused Chinese coast guard vessels of attempting to interfere with commercial shipping by radioing merchant vessels and requesting information about their routes and port destinations.
According to Taiwanese officials, none of the commercial ships altered course, with Taiwan instructing captains to ignore the Chinese broadcasts and continue normal navigation.
Officials argued that Beijing was attempting to gradually establish a perception of administrative authority over waters where Taiwan insists China has no legal jurisdiction.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only its people can determine the island’s future.
(with inputs from Reuters)
