Taipei said on Monday that four Chinese coast guard ships briefly sailed in its waters and called on Beijing to stop any behavior “that endangers maritime security.”
The Chinese ships sailed south of Kinmen Island, five kilometers from the Chinese city of Xiamen, at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday (7:30 GMT), Taiwan’s coast guard said. The ships “left our restricted waters” an hour later, the same source continued, calling on Beijing to immediately stop any “behavior that endangers maritime security”.
Monday’s incident comes two weeks before the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, on May 20. He rejects the demands of Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be retaken one day, by force if necessary.
China has increased pressure in recent years, increasing its naval and air presence around the island. Beijing describes Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, as a “dangerous separatist” who will lead Taiwan on the path “toward war and decline.”
Source: Le Figaro