China Launches Special Operation Off Taiwan: Is War Imminent?

The Chinese government officially launched a special maritime law enforcement operation in the waters east of Taiwan on Saturday, 6 June 2026. This action serves as a firm response to the announced plans by Japan and the Philippines to conduct maritime boundary discussions in the region.

According to Russia Today, the special maritime law enforcement operation was launched by China’s Ministry of Transport in coordination with local authorities. The agency stated that the operation specifically aims to exercise China’s full maritime administrative law enforcement jurisdiction and to protect its offshore national rights and interests.

This tactical move by Beijing follows the summit held on 28 May in Tokyo, where Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a joint statement announcing the commencement of talks regarding maritime boundary delimitations within their respective exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.

Responding to this unilateral announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning strongly condemned the plan, as the waters intended for delimitation by Tokyo and Manila lie east of Taiwan, an area Beijing claims as its own exclusive economic zone. Mao emphasised China’s absolute involvement in any territorial matters surrounding the waters near Taiwan.

“Any negotiations involving maritime delimitation in the waters east of Taiwan must involve China,” Mao asserted. Mao further added that the governments of Japan and the Philippines have clearly violated international law by bypassing and ignoring Beijing’s position regarding the delimitation of these maritime territories.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has also raised an alarm regarding the upcoming talks, urging Tokyo and Manila to consult with them first, as the areas likely to be subject to negotiation overlap with waters where the island claims rights and interests.

However, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, defended the move and sought to quell concerns regarding the legal impact of any resulting agreements on other nations. Kihara stated that any agreement reached between Tokyo and Manila would not be legally binding on third parties.