Tensions Rise as China Harasses Ships in Taiwan Waters

China Coast Guard vessels have been harassing commercial ships in waters east of Taiwan by demanding information on their origins and destinations while claiming jurisdiction, prompting accusations of expansionism and increased regional tensions.

Chinese Vessels Target Merchant Ships East of Taiwan

China Coast Guard ships operating around Taiwan over the past few days have been harassing commercial shipping by asking them for information about their point of origin and destination and claiming jurisdiction, the Coast Guard Administration said. [3] In a statement, the CGA said that since Sunday, the Chinese ships had broadcast messages to three passing commercial ships asking for information such as their ports of departure and destination. [3] Taiwanese ships broadcast back that these were Taiwanese waters in which China had no jurisdiction, and the Chinese vessels should not harass ships, the CGA said. [3] The CGA said it also broadcast to the passing merchant ships that they should pay no heed to the inquiries of the Chinese vessels. [3] Ships passing through Taiwan’s waters maintained normal navigation and were not boarded, inspected, approached or interfered with by the Chinese government vessels, it added. [3]

Trigger: Japan-Philippines EEZ Talks

Beijing was angered after Japan and the Philippines last month said they would begin formal talks on their exclusive economic zones, viewing that as involving waters off Taiwan. [3] Late on Saturday, Chinese state media reported ships had been sent to carry out a special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation in the waters east of Taiwan in response to the Japanese and Philippine announcement. [3] A map shows the positions of Chinese coast guard, government and navy vessels operating near Taiwan. [3]

Taiwan's Response and Warnings

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu posted a map on X showing the location of China Coast Guard, navy and government ships operating in waters east of Taiwan. [3] China’s Hai Xun and CG vessels are harassing commercial ships in Taiwan’s EEZ to fabricate a facade of PRC jurisdiction, he wrote. [3] This expansionism is a major escalation of regional tension, Wu stated. [3] We call on all commercial vessels in the area to ignore CCG radio calls, he added. [3] The CGA said ships passing through Taiwan’s waters maintained normal navigation and were not boarded, inspected, approached or interfered with by the Chinese government vessels. [3]

US Calls for Peaceful Resolution

Responding to the escalating Chinese coast guard activity, a US Department of State spokesperson said in a statement that the US expects differences between China and Taiwan to be resolved by peaceful means and free from coercion. [3] We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with the elected leadership, the spokesperson added. [3]

Philippine Protest Over Scarborough Shoal Structure

The Philippines said that it has filed a formal protest with China over a floating structure spotted near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the site of repeated clashes in the South China Sea. [5] Scarborough Shoal lies 240km west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900km from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass. [5] China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea despite a 2016 court ruling that said its claims had no basis in international law. [5] Beijing revealed plans in September last year to create a nature reserve at Scarborough, prompting Manila’s former national security adviser Eduardo Ano to call it a clear pretext toward eventual occupation. [5] Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Analyn Ratonel confirmed that Manila had issued a protest over the new structure, said to be at the entrance of a lagoon once used by Filipino fishers. [5] Manila has undertaken the appropriate diplomatic action, such as several demarches and the issuance of a formal protest, against the structure, Ratonel told reporters. [5] The message came a day after Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner told a government television station that the Philippine Air Force planes had spotted a structure with six people atop it and what appeared to be an antenna. [5] We will not allow a repeat of what happened in the past when they initially put up a small structure and then later on it grew into an artificial island, he said in an apparent reference to reefs in the area that China has turned into militarized islands. [5] We will not allow that at Scarborough Shoal, he said, pledging increased air and sea patrols to monitor developments in the area. [5] In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Manila repeated Beijing’s indisputable claim to Scarborough as part of its inherent territory. [5] It is fully within China’s sovereign rights to carry out activities including scientific research at Scarborough, embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng said. [5]

Broader Context of US-China Tech and Security Concerns

Senators urge US government to close chip loophole. [1] US case fuels fears of Chinese spying. [2] These developments illustrate wider bilateral tensions between the United States and China. [1][2]

What to watch next: Philippine air and sea patrols will increase to monitor developments near Scarborough Shoal, while Beijing maintains its claim that activities there fall within its sovereign rights.