Taiwan says its sovereignty cannot be ‘violated’ as China ends coast guard patrol
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- China ended its "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" on June 10, 2026, after inspecting 198 vessels, rectifying violations involving three ships, and conducting a hydrographic survey near undersea cable routes.
- Taiwan's coast guard declared that China has no jurisdiction in the waters east of Taiwan and warned that any vessel asserting jurisdiction will be expelled without exception.
- Three merchant ships were "harassed" by the Chinese coast guard, which demanded information on their point of origin and destination and claimed jurisdiction.
- Japan and the Philippines announced formal maritime boundary talks, which angered China because it viewed the discussions as involving waters off Taiwan.
- Chinese state media released a map depicting arrows encircling Taiwan to illustrate the area of the operation.
Why it matters: The standoff raises the risk for commercial shipping in the East China Sea, as Taiwan vows to expel vessels claiming jurisdiction, while China’s termination of the patrol after a large‑scale inspection marks a tactical pause rather than a concession, leaving maritime operators uncertain.
