China Coast Guard says patrols around eastern Taiwan are routine

2026-07-04

Patrols around eastern Taiwan made routine

The China Coast Guard said in a statement on Thursday that it had made law-enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan a routine practice. The move appeared aimed at asserting jurisdiction over the area and countering Japan and the Philippines after they agreed to begin negotiations on maritime delimitation.

Patrols and rescue operations continue since June

The statement said Coast Guard vessels had continued patrols and rescue operations and other activities in the waters concerned east of Taiwan since June. It added that law-enforcement patrols in the waters under its jurisdiction would be strengthened and that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests would be firmly defended.

Taiwan pushes back on talks with Japan and the Philippines

China, which regards Taiwan as its own territory, has strongly objected to the inclusion of waters east of Taiwan in the area covered by talks between Japan and the Philippines, saying it infringes China's sovereignty. In response, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Thursday that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country and that China's jurisdiction does not extend to waters east of Taiwan. It also said it had confirmed the presence of several China Coast Guard vessels that day and was monitoring them with patrol boats.

More than 110 vessels near first island chain

Wu Chao-hsieh, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, posted on X that China has deployed more than 110 vessels, a record high, around the first island chain extending from Japan to the Philippines.

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