CGA condemns China's maritime operations in waters east of Taiwan

Taipei, June 7 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Sunday condemned China's announcement of a maritime law enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan, saying Beijing has no sovereign rights in the area and its claims violate international law.

In a statement, the CGA rejected assertions by China's Ministry of Transport that it s conducting a "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation" east of Taiwan, with vessels expected to reach the area on June 7.

"China does not enjoy any sovereign rights in waters east of Taiwan," the CGA said, adding that Beijing's actions violated international law and were "seriously deviating from the facts."

As of early Sunday, the CGA said it had detected four Chinese vessels -- "Haixun 06," "Haixun 08," "Haixun 09" and "Donghaijiu 113" -- departing from Xiamen in China's Fujian Province and sailing toward waters southwest of Taiwan.

According to the CGA, the vessels were operating outside Taiwan's restricted waters, which extend from 12 to 24 nautical miles offshore.

The CGA said it has dispatched five patrol vessels -- the Tamsui, Jian, Kaohsiung, Changbin and Hualien -- to the area, while keeping smaller patrol vessels on standby within the 24-nautical-mile zone to monitor the movements of the Chinese vessels.

The CGA said none of the Chinese vessels entered Taiwan's restricted waters and that maritime traffic around Taiwan continued to operate normally.

The agency pledged to take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty.

Late Saturday, China announced that it had launched a new round of special maritime law enforcement operations jointly organized by the Ministry of Transport, the Fujian and Guangdong maritime safety administrations, the East China Sea Navigation Support Center, and the East China Sea Rescue Bureau.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency said the operation was a response to what it described as unilateral moves by Japan and the Philippines to launch talks on maritime boundary delimitation east of Taiwan, which Beijing said seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

According to Xinhua, the operation is intended to "fully exercise China's maritime administrative law enforcement jurisdiction," enhance deep-sea cruise enforcement and traffic control capabilities, safeguard maritime traffic safety and protect national interests.

However, the CGA accused Beijing of escalating its "gray-zone" pressure campaign against Taiwan.

It cited the activities of the Chinese research vessel Tongji in waters around Taiwan in May, recent incursions by Chinese coast guard vessels and the survey ship Hai Si Lu 6 near the Dongsha Islands, and the latest maritime operation east of Taiwan as examples of attempts to create a false impression that China possesses jurisdiction over the area.

The CGA said it strongly condemns China's actions and will take all necessary measures to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and ensure maritime security.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Thursday that the proposed talks between Japan and the Philippines are intended to counter China, adding that Taiwan is in close contact with both countries to safeguard its rights.

However, the planned talks have also raised concerns among some Taiwanese maritime experts because the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) claimed by Japan and the Philippines overlap with Taiwan's EEZ in waters east of the island.

An EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline and grants that state sovereign rights to explore, exploit, and manage natural resources within the zone.