Taiwan says it forced 2 Chinese research vessels out of its waters

Taipei (EFE).- Taiwan’s coast guard said Monday that two Chinese research ships entered waters north of the island over the weekend in what it called a violation of international law before being forced to withdraw.

The vessels — the Xiang Yang Hong 18 and the Dong Fang Hong 3 — were detected at 9:58 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard Administration said in a statement.

In response, Taiwan deployed four patrol vessels in two-on-one formations that “escorted and monitored the Chinese vessels at all times,” the statement said. The coast guard added that “through firm approaches and deterrent actions,” its crews “managed to force both vessels to change course and withdraw out of our waters” just after 3:45 p.m.

The agency urged Beijing to “stop such actions that undermine regional peace and stability, to avoid generating resentment between the populations on both sides of the strait.”

It said Taiwan would continue to “maintain a firm stance in law enforcement, closely monitoring the activities of Chinese government vessels, deploying patrol vessels in advance, and acting immediately to monitor and expel any incursions.”

Taiwanese authorities say such operations are part of China’s “gray-zone” tactics — maneuvers that stop short of open conflict but are intended to wear down the island’s defenses and pressure the government of President William Lai, whom Beijing labels an “independence activist” and “troublemaker.”

Earlier this month, Lai’s government proposed an extra budget of TWD29.56 billion ($967 million) to fund the construction of 40 new coast guard ships and boost maritime surveillance. EFE

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