The Chinese Ministry of Transport organised a “special maritime traffic enforcement operation” on Saturday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The move aimed to exercise China’s “maritime administrative jurisdiction” and safeguard national interests, according to the report.
The actions represent Beijing’s escalated response to a recent announcement by Tokyo and Manila to hold talks to resolve border issues. The discussions concern waters east of Taiwan, the self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as its territory. The area also overlaps with exclusive economic zones claimed by China.
The talks “seriously infringed upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” according to the Xinhua report.
The Saturday deployment involved Fujian, Guangdong and East China Sea maritime agencies. It followed China’s move on June 1 to send Coast Guard vessels on “law enforcement patrols” to the east of Taiwan in a show of displeasure.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside normal business hours. The friction stems from a meeting last week between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos said the two countries share a commitment to strengthening maritime security.
Both nations have drawn Beijing’s ire with recent assertions regarding Taiwan. The Philippine leader said last month that his country would likely get involved in the event of a conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the island, while Takaichi said in November that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could justify Japan sending troops.
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