Taiwan expels four Chinese coast guard ships

Tensions have escalated in the waters east of Taiwan following a series of Chinese coast guard patrols that have drawn strong condemnation from Taipei. The situation stems from a Chinese "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation" launched in early June, which Taiwan says has involved the harassment of commercial shipping and incursions into its restricted waters.

The Chinese operation was initiated on June 6, according to state media, and was described as a response to an announcement by Japan and the Philippines in late May that they would begin formal talks on delimiting their maritime boundaries. Beijing views these negotiations as involving waters off Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory. In response, Chinese authorities said they dispatched vessels to strengthen law enforcement and assert jurisdiction.

Taiwan's government, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, reported that Chinese coast guard ships began approaching merchant vessels, demanding information about their origins and destinations. Taipei's coast guard stated that on June 7, four Chinese ships, including three coast guard vessels, entered restricted waters southwest of...