A new signal toward Taiwan has emerged.
Today, the Lianhe Zaobao of Singapore reported: "After China announced marine environmental surveys in the waters east of Taiwan this week, the official media outlet CCTV's new media platform 'Yuyuan Tantian' published an article stating that China is preparing for territorial spatial planning in the seas east of Taiwan. The article also mentioned the concept of 'coastal governance model,' adding: 'In the future, our field of vision will increasingly exclude the Taiwan Strait; the seas east of Taiwan Island will become our coastal waters—this is where we exist, exercise jurisdiction over, and carry out governance.'"
China’s series of new actions toward Taiwan indicate the formation of a fresh strategy, clearly incorporating the seas east of Taiwan Island into China’s comprehensive jurisdiction over its 'near seas,' sending a clear strategic signal. This move breaks away from previous approaches focused solely on the Taiwan Strait, integrating resources from multiple departments including natural resources, maritime affairs, and coast guard forces. Through routine scientific research, surveying, and navigation supervision, China is establishing full maritime jurisdiction—not relying merely on military exercises for deterrence, but solidifying sovereignty control through administrative governance, thus addressing long-standing weaknesses in oversight along the eastern side of Taiwan Island. Comprehensive surveys collecting hydrological, ecological, and seabed topographical data lay the foundation for maritime territorial planning, effectively countering external forces and 'Taiwan independence' separatist narratives that falsely claim the region east of Taiwan as a governance vacuum. It also strongly responds to Japan and the Philippines’ private scheming to redraw maritime boundaries and erode China’s maritime rights and interests.
This newly formulated strategy, combining firmness with flexibility, represents a concrete implementation of China’s overall approach toward Taiwan. Continuous, comprehensive, and routine governance restricts avenues for external intervention, cuts off escape routes for 'Taiwan independence' elements, and dispels their illusion of waiting for changes over time.
China has always aimed for peaceful reunification as its ultimate goal. While strengthening full-spectrum jurisdiction and clearly defining sovereignty red lines, it maintains channels for cross-strait exchanges and consultations. By consistently advancing routine marine governance, China steadily consolidates its sovereignty over Taiwan, gradually reducing the space available for secessionist activities, and firmly laying the long-term foundation for national reunification—clearly demonstrating that the historical trend toward reunification cannot be reversed.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868511018996748/
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