Taiwan has expelled four Chinese coast guard ships that entered its restricted waters near the Matsu Islands shortly after the People’s Liberation Army announced the start of its Joint Sword-2024B exercises around Taiwan, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. Taiwan News.
The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) reported detecting two Chinese Coast Guard ships near Nangan Island and two more near Dongyin Island on Monday morning.
Following the intrusion of Chinese vessels into restricted waters off Matsu, the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu branch of the CGA sent four patrol boats to monitor the situation.
According to CGA, the incident brought the total number of Chinese incursions into Taiwan-controlled waters this year to 44.
The CGA noted that it has formed a task force to address the “abnormal” activities of the Chinese coast guard that began around 11 am. Several Chinese ships crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait, loitering near various parts of Taiwan’s coast. In response, the CGA deployed patrol vessels to help the Ministry of National Defense monitor these activities.
According to the CNA report, CGA and army personnel on Menghu Islet also detected a suspicious target moving towards the islet early Monday morning. After evaluating the situation, the patrol boats intercepted an inflatable boat carrying a Chinese citizen, who was detained and is now under investigation.
The dispute between China and Taiwan centers on the political status of Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province that will eventually need to be reunified with the mainland, while Taiwan operates as an autonomous democracy with its own government, economy and identity.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. In contrast, Taiwan, under the leadership of various parties over the years, has increasingly embraced its distinctive identity and resisted unification under Beijing’s terms.
Disputes in the maritime areas surrounding Taiwan are emblematic of broader geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly related to China’s assertive claims to the South China Sea.
China’s growing military presence, including naval exercises and the construction of artificial islands, has increased tensions.
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