Taiwan reports coordinated operations by 16 Chinese vessels near its coasts

Taiwan said on Sunday that it had driven away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels involved in what it described as maritime harassment operations near Taiwan and the disputed Pratas Island, according to AFP. Taiwan's coast guard said the scale of Chinese vessel activity was unusually large, with ships conducting coordinated operations off Taiwan's eastern, southern and southwestern coastlines as well as around Pratas Island.

The Chinese vessels included four fishing boats and carried out simultaneous operations at multiple locations, which Taiwan's coast guard called a form of hybrid warfare. Some of the vessels entered Taiwan's restricted waters during the operations. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and asserts jurisdiction over the surrounding waters, claims that Taipei rejects. China has repeatedly threatened to use force to bring Taiwan under its control, and such maritime incursions have become a recurring feature of cross-strait tensions, with Taiwan's coast guard and military regularly reporting incidents involving Chinese vessels and aircraft near its territory.