Taiwan Monitors Chinese Vessels Following Military Drills

HUALIEN: Taiwanese coast guard vessels closely monitored several Chinese ships navigating the waters east of Taiwan, following a series of military exercises conducted by China in the region. Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin emphasized Taiwan's commitment to defending its sovereignty amidst China's provocative maneuvers. According to Focus Taiwan, the monitoring operation was conducted by the CGA's frigate CG606, with three reporters providing a firsthand account of the mission. The operation took place a day after China concluded its three-day designation of "temporary reserved areas" of airspace near the Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. The Chinese vessels, nine in total, were detected on December 6 in waters off Taiwan's southwest and southeast coasts and were observed returning northward to China. The Chinese fleet was divided into two groups during their return. The first group of four vessels, led by China's vessel No. 2901, sailed from waters off Taiwan's southe ast coast, while another four vessels, numbered 2302, 2203, 2307, and 2304, were encountered by the CGA vessel CG606 approximately 36 nautical miles east of the Port of Hualien. These vessels were heading north after completing their drills. Hsieh noted that the CGA's CG606, along with the 1,000-ton CG133 and 600-ton CG607, came within one nautical mile of the Chinese fleet at one point during their monitoring operation. This maneuver underscored Taiwan's vigilance in the face of China's military activities. Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng, head of the Ministry of National Defense's Office of Deputy Chief of General Staff for Intelligence, commented that China's drills were not solely intended to intimidate Taiwan. They were also part of a strategy to assert control over the Taiwan Strait by effectively turning it into Chinese internal waters, he said.