Taiwan's coastguard has allegedly confronted and forced away a group of 16 Chinese vessels, including coastguard units, research ships, and fishing boats, which were purportedly involved in simultaneous maritime harassment operations. The event highlights the growing friction across the Taiwan Strait.

According to statements released by the Taiwanese regime, an unusually large concentration of Chinese maritime assets participated in coordinated maneuvers around Taiwan’s main island and the disputed Pratas Islands to the southwest. The operation reportedly included four fishing vessels engaging in actions that officials labeled as "hybrid warfare."

The Taipei administration asserted that its forces took immediate and forceful action to neutralize potential threats, accusing Beijing of attempting to unilaterally alter the regional status-quo and project a false sense of jurisdiction. Reports further indicated that certain vessels breached restricted waters during the standoff.

Beijing maintains claims over Taiwan and the surrounding maritime zones, a stance firmly rejected by the local authorities. Tensions have steadily escalated in recent months, with official data showing a significant surge in Chinese vessel deployments near the island compared to previous years.

Source: www.aljazeera.com