Taiwan Coast Guard Expels Four Chinese Ships
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- Taiwan coast guard expelled four Chinese government ships from restricted waters 30 nautical miles southwest of Taiwan’s southern tip on June 7.
- Chinese state media reported the vessels were conducting a “special maritime traffic law enforcement operation” east of Taiwan in response to Japan and the Philippines’ maritime boundary talks.
- Taiwan deployed seven coast guard vessels to warn the Chinese ships, leading to their expulsion later that afternoon.
- Chinese officer warned the Taiwanese ships that the waters were under Chinese jurisdiction.
- Taiwanese officer replied that China has no sovereign rights in those waters and warned that conflict would bring sanctions.
Why it matters: Taiwan’s decisive expulsion reinforces its maritime claim and deters future Chinese incursions, while China faces diplomatic pushback and potential sanctions, tightening the Taiwan Strait standoff.
