Risk of Asian War: China Deploys Forces to Taiwan's Gateway
Taiwan’s coast guard authorities have deployed several patrol vessels to respond to operations conducted by China in the waters east of the island. Taiwan considers Beijing’s maritime law enforcement operations to be a violation of international law and conducted in territory not under Chinese sovereignty.
In a statement on Sunday (7/6/2026) reported by AFP, the Taiwanese coast guard stated that Chinese government ships were monitored throughout the operation. Taiwan also deployed the necessary fleet to conduct surveillance and take appropriate responsive measures.
Taiwan reported detecting four Chinese government ships departing from Xiamen Port and sailing outside Taiwan’s restricted waters in the southwestern part of the island. To strengthen monitoring, more than five Taiwanese coast guard ships were deployed to oversee the movement of the Chinese vessels.
According to Taiwanese authorities, the Chinese ships were expected to arrive in the relevant waters on Sunday. Taiwan emphasised that China possesses no sovereign rights over the waters east of the island.
This tension emerged after Chinese state media reported on Saturday that maritime law enforcement operations were being conducted in response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to initiate maritime boundary negotiations in the region. Beijing considers the moves by Tokyo and Manila to be illegal and claims exclusive control over the disputed waters.
Last month, Japan and the Philippines agreed to begin formal talks to establish the boundaries of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. This agreement triggered anger from China, which maintains extensive maritime claims in the region.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport coordinated maritime police from Fujian and Guangdong provinces on Saturday to carry out special maritime traffic law enforcement operations in the waters east of Taiwan. However, Chinese state media reports did not detail the duration of the operation or whether the activities are still ongoing.
China stated that the operation is a necessary step in response to the unilateral announcement by Japan and the Philippines regarding the commencement of maritime boundary negotiations near Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government asserted last Wednesday that it should have been involved in the discussions between Tokyo and Manila.
Relations between Japan and the Philippines have strengthened in recent years due to shared concerns regarding China’s maritime claims. Japan and China remain involved in territorial and economic disputes in the East China Sea, while the Philippines frequently faces confrontations with Chinese coast guard and naval vessels in the South China Sea.
Amidst rising tensions, Taiwan also reported on Saturday that a Chinese survey ship joined Chinese coast guard vessels in the waters around Pratas Island in the northern South China Sea. The Taiwanese coast guard noted this as the first time Chinese coast guard and survey ships have been observed operating in a coordinated manner to provoke Taiwan.
Pratas Island is currently under Taiwanese control but is also claimed by Beijing. In addition to Pratas Island, China claims much of the South China Sea, which is a strategic shipping route and rich in resources.