China steps up patrols near Taiwan’s Pacific coast — The Japan Times
Since June, China has sent an average of two coast guard ships per month into waters east of Taiwan, increasing its presence near the island’s Pacific coast. The Japan Times reports that these are the first recorded patrols by the Chinese coast guard in the area in data available since January 2025.
According to Bloomberg’s calculations based on vessel-tracking data, the patrols covered an area of 27,100 square nautical miles — more than twice Taiwan’s area. Chinese ships stayed about 30 nautical miles from the island’s eastern coast, remaining outside waters claimed by Taiwan.
Strategic importance of eastern waters
Taiwan’s eastern coast is strategically important because of sea routes to the Philippines and the broader Pacific region, as well as access to ports and military facilities through which the United States and its regional allies can supply resources. According to MarineTraffic, 527 vessels carrying oil, gas, iron ore and agricultural products passed through these waters in June. During the same period, 420 such vessels passed through the Taiwan Strait, which usually has heavier shipping traffic.
Jing Ge, a lecturer at Florida International University, said Taiwan’s eastern waters were often viewed as a “back door,” while China seeks to demonstrate that this direction is no longer uncontested. The United States called China’s actions “deeply destabilizing.”
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Operations of Chinese agencies
On June 1, China sent two large coast guard patrol ships east of Taiwan — the 5,000-ton Daishan and the 3,000-ton Baita. Later in June, China deployed the 10,000-ton Haixun 09 and the 6,600-ton Haixun 06 to circumnavigate Taiwan. This rare interagency operation also involved China’s largest deep-sea research vessel and a rescue ship.
During the five-day mission, Chinese ships questioned foreign merchant vessels passing near Taiwan’s Pacific coast for the first time. Chinese state media reported an “inspection” of 198 vessels without specifying the nature of these actions. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said Beijing is trying to use law-enforcement patrols to establish a new norm of its maritime presence east of the island, and that Taiwan promptly dispatches ships in response.
After Daishan and Baita spent a month in the area, China sent two more coast guard ships to replace them. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission viewed this as a way for Beijing to ensure a continuous presence in the area. In mid-July, Taiwan held military exercises on Orchid Island and Green Island near its southeastern coast for the first time in three decades.
