The United States has described recent Chinese maritime activity off Taiwan’s east coast as deeply destabilising, saying the operations only raise tensions in one of Asia’s most sensitive waterways, according to reports from the region.
The comment came after reports of the first known sighting of a Chinese militia vessel operating off Taiwan’s Pacific-facing coast in August, alongside a coast guard cutter and a research ship. Taiwan regards its eastern seaboard as critical to wartime supply routes from partners in the event of a blockade or conflict.
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up activity off the island’s east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols, according to reports. Officials in Taiwan say they believe Beijing is practising for a possible maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets, a claim Taiwan’s defence ministry has linked to what it calls harassment drills conducted under the cover of law enforcement and scientific research.
Washington said it remains concerned by the activity east of Taiwan and urged Beijing to cease pressure against the island and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected authorities. The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer, although a new arms sale package for the island has yet to be approved.
In a practice dating to the 1950s, China’s maritime militia, more commonly observed around flashpoints in the South China Sea, consists of fishing vessels whose crews receive training and support to operate in disputed waters, often alongside coast guard ships. Its appearance off Taiwan’s east coast is therefore being watched closely, because the same stretch of ocean would matter greatly in any crisis involving resupply of the island.
Taiwan’s coast guard said the militia boat and its accompanying vessels operated outside restricted waters. Beijing recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the waters surrounding it, and did not immediately comment on the latest sighting. For now, the episode adds another layer to a standoff in which fishing fleets, coast guards and navies are all part of the same contested picture.
