Taiwan accuses China of maritime harassment during new patrols

Taiwan has accused the China Coast Guard of conducting “harassment” through maritime operations east of the island. The dispute follows Beijing’s announcement of a new round of maritime patrols in the strategic area.

The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) reported deploying the patrol vessel Lanyu and other ships to monitor the Chinese vessels Zhujiajian and Chongming. According to Taiwanese maritime authorities, the Zhujiajian was located approximately 97 nautical miles northeast of Green Island, while the Chongming was sailing about 146 nautical miles east of Lanyu.

Taiwanese officials rejected Beijing’s authority to conduct law enforcement operations in these waters, asserting that “Taiwan possesses sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone east of the island and China has no jurisdiction over any of Taiwan’s surrounding waters.”

China’s Coast Guard spokesperson, Jiang Lue, stated that the group led by the Zhujiajian has intensified “control” efforts in these waters since early September, describing the activities as routine law enforcement patrols.