《TAIPEI TIMES》 Coast guard monitoring Chinese vessels east of Taiwan

The patrol boat Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Administration

By Yimou Lee and Liz Lee / Reuters, TAIPEI and BEIJING

The Coast Guard Administration （CGA） yesterday said it was closely monitoring Chinese coast guard patrols in waters east of Taiwan, condemning the move as a political operation aimed at expanding Beijing’s control.

The China Coast Guard said in a statement that the patrols were led by one of its ships, the Xiushan （秀山）, and it would continue to strengthen such efforts.

“Since July, the Xiushan task group had been strengthening control over the relevant waters to effectively ensure orderly navigation and activities,” China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue （姜略） said.

This is to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests, as well as the lives and property of fishers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, he said.

The CGA said a patrol ship, the Taipei （台北）, was among the vessels it sent to monitor the Chinese ships, and accused Beijing of engaging in “fake law enforcement, real expansion of power.”

Two Chinese coast guard vessels, the Xiushan and the Chongming （崇明）, were detected yesterday, it said.

One was about 151 nautical miles （280km） east of Lanyu （Orchid Island, 蘭嶼）, and the other about 43 nautical miles to the island’s northeast, it added.

It vowed to “take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty” and ensure the security of Taiwan’s waters.

The Mainland Affairs Council said the government would continue to firmly and appropriately enforce the law in the waters surrounding Taiwan to defend the nation’s sovereignty and maritime rights.

China has stepped up military and coast guard activity around Taiwan, including operations to the nation’s east, an area Taiwan sees as vital for wartime supply lines from allies.

China started the eastern patrols early in June, in response to maritime border talks between Japan and the Philippines, drawing concern from countries such as the UK, France, Germany and the US.

This week, the American Institute in Taiwan made a rare public disclosure of coordination between their coast guards.

It released a picture of a CGA vessel sailing in formation with the US Coast Guard cutter Midgett at an unspecified location.

Additional reporting by Chung Li-hua 新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES