Taiwan says 5 China coast guard ships entered waters around Kinmen

Anti-landing barricades are seen on the beach in Kinmen, Taiwan February 20, 2024. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

TAIPEI — Five Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Taiwan’s frontline islands of Kinmen on Monday, a Taiwan minister told reporters on Tuesday amid rising tension with Beijing.

China’s coast guard this month began regular patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which are close to China’s shores after two Chinese nationals died trying to flee Taiwan’s coast guard after their boat entered prohibited waters.

READ: Taiwan drives away Chinese coast guard boat as frontline island tensions rise

Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, told reporters the Chinese boats left the area shortly after Taiwan’s coast guard told them to leave.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has been wary of efforts by Beijing to ramp up pressure on Taipei following last month’s election of Lai Ching-te as president, a man Beijing considers a “dangerous separatist.”

READ: China to send coast guard ships as tensions rise over Taiwan islands

Last week, six Chinese coast guard officers boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers to check its route plan, certificate, and crew licenses, leaving around half an hour later, Taiwan’s coast guard said.