Taiwan Expels Four Chinese Vessels from Restricted Waters

Taiwan's coast guard said it expelled four Chinese government ships, including three coast guard vessels, that entered Taiwanese‑restricted waters 30 nautical miles southwest of the island's southern tip on Sunday. Seven Taiwanese coast guard vessels warned the intruders away, and the four Chinese ships departed the area.

The incident followed a Chinese claim that the vessels were conducting a “special maritime traffic law‑enforcement operation” in response to recent Japan‑Philippines talks on delimiting their maritime boundary. Taiwan released a recording in which a Chinese officer said, “These are waters under Chinese jurisdiction… Do not interfere with our official duties,” to which a Taiwanese officer replied that China has no sovereign rights east of Taiwan. Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary‑General Joseph Wu described the PRC as “nothing but a big‑fat bully.” The episode underscores rising maritime tensions in the Taiwan Strait.