China Expands Patrols of Taiwan’s Pacific Coast, Raising Maritime Tensions
China has deployed on average two Coast Guard cutters per month east of Taiwan since June, after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to define their overlapping maritime border. The patrols covered 27,100 square nautical miles, more than twice the size of Taiwan, and ships stayed 30 nautical miles from the island's eastern coast. The operations included questioning foreign commercial ships and inspecting 198 passing vessels.
Why it matters: This escalation in the Taiwan Strait and Pacific coast patrols directly affects maritime security and regional stability, key themes in the geoeconomics briefing.