China Holds Ship Examination Operation In Taiwan Strait, Taipei Firmly Rejects: Create Obstacles

Illustration of the Taiwan Strait. (Wikimedia Commons/BreakdownDiode)

JAKARTA - The maritime security administration of Fujian, China, launched patrol operations and special joint inspections for three days in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait, including ship-ship inspection measures, the WeChat account said.

The move comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosting Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California on Wednesday, becoming the most senior US figure to have met Taiwanese leaders in the US region in decades.

The maritime safety authority in China's southeastern province said on Wednesday the operation included "on-site inspections" on direct cargo ships and construction ships on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, "to ensure the safety of ship navigation and ensure safe and regular operation of key projects over water".

In response to this, the Maritime Bureau and Port of Taiwan's Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Wednesday evening they had filed a strong protest to China about the move.

They said they had notified relevant shipping operators that if they faced such requests from China, they should reject it and immediately notify Taiwan coast guards to provide assistance.

"If mainland China insists on taking unilateral action, it will create obstacles to the normal exchange between the two sides. We will be forced to take appropriate action," he added, without providing details.

The area covered by this operation includes Taiwan's direct container route, a "three small lanes" passenger route, a special route for Taiwan Strait ships, areas often sailed by commercial ships and fishing vessels, as well as areas often used for illegal sand mining activities.

It is known that the passenger route for "three small lanes" refers to the ship's route between Kinmen Island and Matsu in Taiwan that is opposite to cities in China.

The fleet, which is a joint special operation with the East China Sea Rescue Bureau and the East China Sea Navigation Support Center, will continue to conduct shipping inspections in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait for the next two days.