China Rattling Sabers in Crackdowns on Vessels off Eastern Taiwan

Beijing, June 13 (Jiji Press)–Chinese official vessels have begun cracking down on foreign-registered cargo ships in waters off eastern Taiwan, showing unusual demonstrative behavior against Japan and others. The move prompted Taiwan to dispatch patrol ships to the area, heightening tensions temporarily. Taiwanese authorities criticized China. Chinese ships are all but certain to ramp up activities in the waters, raising the possibility that Japanese vessels such as oil tankers may get entangled. A Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration patrol boat ordered a Chinese official ship by radio to leave the area after the Chinese vessel allegedly requested navigational information from a passing South Korean vessel based on a false claim of jurisdiction. The Taiwanese vessel said that the area was within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone, where China has no jurisdiction, arguing that the official ship’s move violated international law. According to the Chinese Transport Ministry, four patrol ships conducted inspections and surveys off eastern Taiwan over the five days through Wednesday. They inspected some 200 ships navigating the area and ordered three to rectify their violations, the ministry said. The ministry argued that the measure was a necessary response to an announcement by Japan and the Philippines to unilaterally begin negotiations to demarcate a maritime boundary for their EEZs and continental shelves off eastern Taiwan, saying this seriously violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Japan and the Philippines agreed to start delimitation talks at a meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on May 28. Beijing claims that waters to the east of Taiwan are part of its EEZ and continental shelf. It has made stern representations to Tokyo and Manila, with a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson calling the talks completely illegal and invalid. The latest crackdowns mark a second recent instance of China displaying its presence off eastern Taiwan, after a Chinese coast guard ship conducted a patrol operation in the waters June 1. Such moves may become routine as negotiations between Japan and the Philippines progress. “(China’s activities) are close to a route for oil tankers, and normal navigation may be hindered,” an official at a major Japanese maritime shipping company said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]