Large vessels that mainland China’s coastguard uses to sail around the contested Diaoyu Islands were sent on Sunday on a law-enforcement patrol near Quemoy, where two mainland fishermen died this month fleeing Taiwan’s coastguard.
The deployment, which signalled Beijing was stepping up pressure on Taipei, was intended to confront Taipei with an overwhelming presence, according to an expert.
At least four vessels – including a former frigate over 2,000 tonnes bearing the number 2202 – patrolled waters near Taiwan-controlled Quemoy, also known as Kinmen.
The fleet was sent by the mainland coastguard of Fujian province and carried out tasks including vessel checks, fishing boat protection and issuing warnings, according to a statement by China Coast Guard.
A video released by the force showed a coastguard vessel issuing a verbal warning: “I am China Coast Guard Ship 2202. Please advise your ship’s departure port, destination port and purpose for coming to this sea area.”
Beijing vows regular patrols in waters where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase
Beijing vows regular patrols in waters where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase
A photo with to the statement showed a Chinese coastguard vessel facing a small boat in nearby water. Yuyuan Tantian, a social media platform affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, quoted sources as saying the other boat appeared to be from Taiwan’s coastguard.
The mainland statement said the operation aimed to strengthen law enforcement in key maritime areas, effectively maintain order and safeguard the safety and property of fishermen.
A video released by the force showed the types of the vessels, including those bearing numbers 14608, 14515 and 2202. The latter was used to patrol near the disputed Diaoyu Islands, called the Senkaku in Japanese, and had a wealth of law enforcement experience, according to Yue Gang, a retired People’s Liberation Army colonel.
Yue said ships 2202 and 2203, which is also over 2,000 tonnes and appeared in the patrols on Sunday, had strong firepower and could operate helicopters on deck.
He said “forming an absolute advantage over the Kinmen coastguard ships and preventing possible reinforcements from Taiwan … can effectively deter Taiwan”.
Zhang Junshe, a mainland military expert, was quoted by Global Times as saying the patrols marked the first time China Coast Guard had entered the “prohibited or restricted waters” around Quemoy.
In these waterways Taiwan’s coastguard searches foreign boats among other law-enforcement measures. Beijing has denied the demarcation of such waters but traditionally it has abided by the boundaries.
Zhang said the development on Sunday was to warn Taiwanese authorities and to show that “Kinmen is China’s territory, and the Kinmen waters are waters under China’s jurisdiction”.
Yue Gang also said Beijing’s enforcement patrol intended to “[show we] do not recognise the so-called prohibition restriction lines established by Taiwan, and to abolish Taiwan’s law enforcement”.
On the same day, a further two boats were enforcing Beijing’s fisheries law in the same maritime area.
Beijing and Taipei remain at loggerheads over the death of the fishermen as their boat was pursued by Taiwan’s coastguard in the waters near Quemoy.
Taiwanese authorities argued that the mainland Chinese boat was not licensed, illegally entered its “prohibited or restricted waters” and capsized when it was trying to avoid inspection by Taiwan’s coastguard. Beijing denied the waters were restricted and accused Taipei of hiding the truth about the incident.
Could fatal Taiwan coastguard chase be a chance to ease tensions?
Could fatal Taiwan coastguard chase be a chance to ease tensions?
A mainland delegation, including officials and relatives of the dead fishermen, were in Quemoy to negotiate with Taiwanese authorities. They conducted their sixth round of talks on Sunday, according to Taiwanese media.
The incident was expected to add to the cross strait tension that had risen since William Lai Ching-te from the independent-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won the island’s presidential election in January.
On Friday, Wang Huning, the head of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the mainland’s top advisory body, said Beijing had further grasped “the strategic initiative” to achieve reunification with Taiwan.
