Since late February, the mainland coast guard has sent dozens of ships on at least nine missions to patrol the waters around Kemoi and Matsu islands, another of Taiwan’s defense strongholds.
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Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown while being chased by Taiwanese coast guard
Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown while being chased by Taiwanese coast guard
The Fujian branch of the mainland coast guard has conducted five missions in waters near Kue Moi in the past week alone as part of “routine law enforcement patrols.” These include five coast guard vessels that took part in an exercise alongside seven mainland government vessels on Thursday, as well as three fishing boats within the restricted waters of Kemoi, Taiwan’s coast guard said.
Taiwan’s coast guard reported that four Fujian coast guard ships were seen patrolling the area at the same time as Thursday’s exercise, and then tailed the vessels and issued a warning.
The increased frequency of patrols comes especially after reports that a Fujian coast guard ship entered Kemoi’s restricted area and stayed there for more than an hour before being alerted by Taiwan’s coast guard, a Taiwanese lawmaker said. This is causing concern among people.
“The China Coast Guard’s actions are not only provocative, they ignore international norms and undermine the status quo on both sides of the strait,” said Wang Tingyu, a lawmaker from the independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Xu Xiaoxin, a lawmaker from the main opposition Kuomintang (Kuomintang), said the frequent “regular patrols” by the mainland coast guard near Kemoi could lead to the Chinese government changing the boundaries of Taiwan’s restricted and prohibited zones in the future. warned that it might.
In a written question to the island’s cabinet, Kuomintang lawmaker Luo Chiang on Wednesday urged the Democratic Progressive Party government to “remove these missions because they risk becoming a ‘new normal’ and undermining our sovereignty and dignity.” “We urge them to work effectively.”
“We demand clarity from the government on the mechanisms that the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense can implement to protect our sovereignty and protect our people from shock and disturbance.”
In response, the Defense Ministry said Taiwan controls the area, and any mainland vessels entering the area would be considered a violation of Taiwan’s authority.
“Current enforcement operations in these waters are [Taiwan’s] The coast guard and military are providing assistance,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the two departments “monitor military and non-military activities of mainland vessels around Taiwan, share information, assess potential subsequent actions, and coordinate responses.”
In the past, the Chinese government has used restricted and prohibited waters unilaterally drawn by the islands as unofficial boundaries between Kemoi and the mainland coastal city of Xiamen, which are only 6 kilometers apart, and between Matsu and the mainland coastal city. There was implicit respect. The closest point to Fuzhou city is 9 km away.
In response to the cross-strait dispute over the fisherman’s death, the Chinese government declared that the entire Taiwan Strait waterway belongs to the mainland and that there is “no such thing as prohibited or restricted waters.”
Analysts say the issue has created a dilemma for the Democratic Progressive Party government, which has vowed to resort to first-strike engagements to target mainland ships and aircraft that enter Taiwan’s airspace and ignore warnings. ing.
“If Taiwan fires at the invading mainland coast guard or warships, it could lead to a cross-strait conflict,” said Max Lo, executive director of the Taiwan International Strategy Research Group, a Taipei think tank.
“Despite their provocative nature, given that these patrols were carried out by the mainland coast guard rather than the People’s Liberation Army, governing authorities should not issue warnings, even if it means compromising Taiwan’s dignity. “The only thing we can do other than issue a warning is to be cautious,” he said.
James Yifan Chen, a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in New Taipei, said the island’s defense ministry “just observes rather than takes action.”
“Also, sending Taiwanese naval vessels to respond to Chinese coast guard ships could further escalate tensions.” [Ing-wen] The administration and the next Rai administration will be very cautious if they do not accept Washington’s opinion. [nod],” He said.
On May 20th, the Democratic Progressive Party’s next president, William Lai Ching-toku, will be inaugurated to succeed Tsai. Immediately after the fishing boat incident, the United States called on China and Taipei to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully to “reduce the risk of miscalculation.”
The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be its own territory and has not renounced the use of force to take it back. The United States, Taipei’s biggest arms supplier, does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country like most countries, but opposes any attempt to occupy the island by force.
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War-scarred bunkers on Kemoi Island reflect the island’s frontline role in tensions across the Taiwan Strait
War-scarred bunkers on Kemoi Island reflect the island’s frontline role in tensions across the Taiwan Strait
Chen said the People’s Liberation Army has turned war games around Taiwan into actual exercises since then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022, ignoring repeated warnings from the Chinese government. He said he seized the opportunity. A day after her visit, the Chinese government claimed the trip was a violation of its sovereignty and the United States’ “One China Policy.”
“Taiwanese people don’t really understand the Tsai administration’s hardline stance on real threats,” he said. He said Taiwan’s response was deemed “too weak” and limited to “mere surveillance and surveillance” as PLA sorties approached northern Taiwan, some as close as 30 nautical miles from the island. It was pointed out that [issuing] Daily Press Release Tracking”.
“Sometimes you have to do something to show your determination to protect Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party cannot protect Taiwan with just lip service.”
In his inaugural address, Mr. Chen urged Mr. Lai to “work hard to restore basic daily communication channels” by showing goodwill to the Chinese government. Although the mainland may not have high expectations for its next leader, Lai “could get off to a good start that will surprise China and please the US government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chie Chun, a security analyst at the National Policy Foundation, a Kuomintang-affiliated think tank, said the Chinese government is aiming to “overturn the previous tacit agreement that government vessels will not enter the Kemoi restricted area.” said.
“After fully establishing new real-world enforcement authorities and jurisdiction in these waters, the mainland will not stop law enforcement patrols there,” Chie said, but the Chinese government will not “result in any serious provocation. “We are aware of this, so we will be relatively restrained,” he added. There is a possibility that this could lead to a cross-strait conflict. ”
