Taiwan has condemned recent Chinese Coast Guard patrols east of the island as a “provocative act”, accusing Beijing of attempting to expand its maritime claims and undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Speaking in parliament, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said China was using both physical presence and “cognitive warfare” to influence perceptions of control over the region.
“They are attempting to first claim the eastern waters as their domain, like casting a large spider’s web over the area,” Koo said.
Patrols Follow Japan-Philippines Talks
The Chinese patrols came after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to begin formal talks on maritime boundary delimitation, a move that reportedly angered Beijing.
Chinese state media said four Coast Guard vessels had been dispatched to conduct a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” in waters east of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard responded by sending its own vessels and said the Chinese ships were warned away from restricted waters before leaving the area early on Monday.
Taiwan Warns Of Escalating Pressure
Taiwanese officials say the patrols are part of a broader campaign of increasing Chinese pressure.
Kuan Bi-ling said Beijing had launched a month-long campaign of “escalating provocations”, including operations near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands and the deployment of research vessels close to Taiwanese waters.
“The ocean should be an ocean of peace, not an ocean of conflict and threats,” she said.
Military On Alert
Taiwan’s military said it would continue coordinating closely with the Coast Guard and maintain intelligence sharing to monitor Chinese activities.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is also tracking the movements of China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, which is currently operating in the Western Pacific.
China regularly sends warships and military aircraft near Taiwan and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the self-governed island under its control.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future.
(with inputs from Reuters)
