Taiwan Accuses China of Harassment in Repeated Patrols

Two Chinese coast guard vessels, the Hushi (CCG 1308) and Meishan (CCG 2303), patrolled east of Taiwan on Oct. 31, 2026. Taiwan's Coast Guard said it sent ships including the Ji An to monitor them. China's Ministry of National Defense called the operation a routine law-enforcement patrol led by the Hushi formation. Taiwan's Coast Guard rejected that claim Saturday night, stating Taiwan holds sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone east of Taiwan and China has absolutely no jurisdiction over any of Taiwan's waters, and that attempts to harass ships through radio communications violate international law. Chinese state media showed a vessel broadcasting a law-enforcement message offering assistance without identifying a recipient, with an unidentified fishing trawler shown. Separately, Taiwan reported a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Pratas Islands and said it has expelled Chinese coast guard vessels from Pratas waters 13 times in 2026. Pai Pang-ting said at a Taipei security forum that Beijing uses coast guard, research and fishing vessels to challenge Taiwan's maritime jurisdiction while the PLA provides military deterrence. Taiwanese officials link increased east-coast coast guard activity since June 2026 to concern over a possible blockade; no blockade is confirmed.