Taiwan Reports Surge in Chinese Gray-Zone Operations After Kinmen Incursion
Taiwan's coast guard says it drove four Chinese coast guard vessels out of waters near the outlying Kinmen Islands on Monday. The incident comes as Taiwan's defense ministry reports a sharp increase in Chinese maritime activity around the islands, with the number of vessels involved in so-called gray-zone operations nearly doubling since 2022. Officials accuse Beijing of conducting "false law enforcement patrols" to assert jurisdiction over waters surrounding Taiwan, in what they describe as an effort to redefine them as China's "domestic sea."
Maritime Intrusions on the Rise
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s Coast Guard says it drove four Chinese coast guard vessels out of waters near Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Island on Monday.
Taiwan Coast Guard:
You don’t belong here!
Turn around and leave now, China coast guard!
The latest intrusion comes as Taiwan’s defense ministry reports a rise in Chinese maritime activity around the country. It says the number of ships involved in gray-zone harassment has nearly doubled since 2022. The ministry says Beijing is using “false law enforcement patrols” to assert jurisdiction in waters around Taiwan in attempt to turn them into a quote “domestic sea.” The ministry is expected to present a report to the legislature on Wednesday detailing a formal response.
Naval Intrusions on the Rise
REPORTER:
Four Chinese Coast Guard vessels intruded into Kinmen waters on June 29 before being driven away nearly two hours later in the most recent display of rising tensions.
The number of these intrusions is on the rise. According to the Ministry of National Defense, since 2022, the number of ships involved in these gray-zone harassment incidents has risen from around 3 to an average of 7. The ministry says that by expanding the veneer of control to waters around Taiwan -- such as through false “law enforcement patrols” -- China is attempting to essentially turn the Taiwan Strait into a “domestic sea.”
On Wednesday, the ministry is expected to present a report to the legislature detailing a formal response to China’s incursion pattern.
