Taipei:Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has confirmed the deployment of three patrol vessels to monitor three Chinese ships in the waters where Taiwan‚¬Å¡¬‚¬Å¾¢s and the Philippines' exclusive economic zones (EEZ) overlap.
According to Focus Taiwan, the CGA took this action near Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, as part of its regular monitoring of Chinese vessels around Taiwan. This operation follows standard procedures within the overlapping EEZs, which extend 200 nautical miles from the coastlines of both Taiwan and the Philippines.
The deployment came to light following a statement by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela, who noted the presence of Taiwanese vessels near the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG's largest cutter. The cutter was monitoring the Chinese survey ship JIA HAI KE 7 and two China Coast Guard vessels as they moved towards the outer limits of the Philippine EEZ in the Luzon Strait.
Taiwan's Coast Guard vessels Changhua, Taichung, and Tainan were reported at varying distances from the BRP Teresa Magbanua. Despite speculation in the Philippines about possible joint operations between Taiwan and the Philippines against Chinese maritime activities, neither the CGA nor the PCG has commented on such a collaboration.
Tarriela expressed concerns about the JIA HAI KE 7's prolonged presence in sensitive waters and its potential data spoofing activities, suggesting the ship might be serving Chinese government interests. The Chinese vessel had not sought permission from Manila for marine research in the region, contravening international and Philippine maritime laws.