China’s coast guard said on Monday that it had carried out “law enforcement” patrols in waters east of Taiwan in response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to begin maritime boundary delimitation talks in an area Beijing claims as its own, escalating tensions over disputed waters in the western Pacific.
In a statement, the Chinese coast guard said a flotilla conducted the patrols “in accordance with the law” near Taiwan after Tokyo and Manila announced negotiations on demarcating maritime boundaries. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and insists the waters east of the island fall under Chinese sovereignty.
