Taiwan has pledged to remove Chinese vessels following their patrol in the waters off its eastern coast

Taiwan has announced that it will expel any Chinese vessels that assert jurisdiction following Beijing’s conclusion of a patrol near the island.

Taiwan has pledged to remove any Chinese vessels that try to claim authority in waters close to the island, following China’s completion of a maritime patrol operation off Taiwan’s eastern coast, which Taipei characterized as a violation of its sovereignty.

Taiwan’s coast guard stated on Thursday that it would not accept what it described as Chinese attempts to fabricate a misleading perception of control over the waters east of the island.

“The sovereignty of our nation’s maritime territory must not be compromised,” stated the coast guard. “Any country that claims jurisdiction will be expelled without exception.”

The warning came after the conclusion of a Chinese maritime operation that was initiated following Japan and the Philippines’ announcement last month regarding the commencement of formal discussions on maritime boundaries. Beijing regarded the discussions as pertaining to waters near Taiwan, which China asserts as its territory.

Chinese state media reported on Saturday that vessels had been dispatched to carry out a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” and to inspect shipping routes east of Taiwan.

On Wednesday, Chinese state media reported that the operation had concluded after authorities inspected 198 passing vessels and addressed violations involving three ships. They also conducted hydrographic surveys and patrolled areas containing undersea communication cables.

Taiwan dismissed China’s assertions of control in the region, affirming that Beijing holds no legal jurisdiction over those waters.

Taiwan Coast Guard spokesman Hsieh Ching-chin reported that Chinese vessels had inquired about merchant ships navigating through the area, requesting information regarding their origins and destinations.

Taiwan previously reported that three commercial vessels faced “harassment” from the Chinese coast guard during the operation.

“China has no sovereign rights whatsoever in the waters east of Taiwan,” Hsieh stated to reporters.

“Our Coast Guard Administration will expel, without exception, any vessel involved in asserting jurisdiction, regardless of nationality, to defend our sovereignty,” he added.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s coast guard reported that two Chinese government vessels entered restricted waters near Itu Aba in the South China Sea, coming within 2.1 nautical miles of the Taiwan-controlled island.

Taiwan reported that the vessels remained in the area for approximately 15 minutes before departing after receiving warnings from coast guard ships.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operate around Taiwan nearly every day as Beijing persists in dismissing Taipei’s assertions of self-governance. Taiwan’s government firmly believes that only its people should determine the island’s future.

President Lai Ching-te has consistently extended invitations for dialogue with Beijing; however, Chinese authorities have dismissed these gestures and labeled him a “separatist.”