China coast guard patrols east Taiwan, hails ships

Two Chinese coast guard ships patrolled off Taiwan's east coast on Saturday and broadcast radio messages telling nearby ships that Chinese law applies there. Taiwan's Coast Guard deployed its own ships to shadow them and called the radio announcements a clear violation of international law.

State media footage from Beijing showed a Chinese ship hailing a fishing trawler, identifying itself as conducting law enforcement and offering assistance. Taiwan disputed the premise. Its officials said Beijing has no jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone east of the island, and that asserting otherwise is an attempt to establish control over a sea route Taiwan relies on for wartime resupply from allies.

China has sent coast guard ships on regular patrols east of Taiwan since June. On the same day, a separate Chinese ship also approached the Pratas Islands area, hundreds of kilometres to the south. Taiwan has expelled Chinese coast guard ships from Pratas waters 13 times this year.