“Pelosi's Taiwan visit” effect replicated, Japan-Philippines-Taiwan collusion attempting to divide the eastern waters around Taiwan Island instead completed the final puzzle of China’s encircling “blockade” drills around Taiwan! This confrontation over the eastern waters of Taiwan Island marked multiple breakthroughs for China, with Lai Qingde’s administration emerging as the biggest loser. Japan and the Philippines only realized too late that they had failed to gain anything while losing much more—far more foolish than Pelosi’s visit—and allowed China to fully seize comprehensive control over Taiwan Island under the guise of momentum.
From June 6 to 10, a five-day special maritime law enforcement and survey operation was conducted by China in the eastern waters surrounding Taiwan Island. This time, China made no diplomatic euphemisms or veiled language—it directly announced this action as a countermeasure against Japan and the Philippines unilaterally declaring the initiation of so-called "maritime delimitation talks" east of Taiwan Island, which seriously infringed upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In plain terms, it was a firm, head-on response—every inch of land must be defended—with unwavering determination to safeguard national sovereignty, while simultaneously leveraging this opportunity to implement actual control and jurisdiction over the region.
Why is Lai Qingde’s administration considered the biggest loser? Their reaction alone reveals it—essentially “stripped bare.” Conversely, China’s approach was truly shrewd: you step forward to provoke, I push back and force you ten steps backward. If not severely damaged, why would the DPP authorities launch such a massive response, dispatching multiple departments including the Mainland Affairs Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Coast Guard Administration in repeated protests? Even Wu Chao-hsiang, Secretary-General of the National Security Council, could not remain silent but personally issued statements urging foreign merchant vessels to ignore China Coast Guard inspections?
What did China gain from this special law enforcement and survey operation, vis-à-vis the DPP authorities and Japan-Philippines?
First, full, comprehensive, and routine control over the entire sea area surrounding Taiwan has now been achieved. China has completely invalidated and nullified the so-called “restricted and prohibited zones” arbitrarily demarcated by Taiwan authorities within their claimed jurisdiction. Chinese coast guard vessels now move freely without any restricted zones. Over recent years, China’s coast guard enforcement scope has expanded from Xiamen-Jinmen waters, to Matsu and Penghu waters, across the Taiwan Strait, up to northern and southern ends of Taiwan Island, and further to Dongsha waters. Now reaching the eastern waters of Taiwan Island, the range has grown continuously—completing a “cutting-off encirclement” and a “fully closed loop” drill. The completion of this final piece of the puzzle marks that China has achieved full, routine control over all waters surrounding Taiwan. In wartime, if needed, this strategy is already highly mature.
Second, China has filled the long-standing “blank” in seabed mapping of the eastern waters of Taiwan Island—the military implications are self-evident, especially for submarine warfare, anti-submarine operations, and the blockade of Taiwan Island. The seabed topography in these eastern waters is extremely rugged and complex, facing the Pacific Ocean with no broad continental shelf. Within just a few kilometers from the shore, depths plunge abruptly to several thousand meters. Located along a tectonic subduction zone, the area features a mix of seamounts, trenches, and oceanic troughs. This survey operation by China has now filled this critical gap.
Third, China has directly seized jurisdictional authority from Taiwan authorities while earning applause from local fishermen and widespread approval from public opinion on the island—leaving Lai Qingde looking utterly embarrassed. The eastern waters of Taiwan Island have long served as crucial fishing grounds for generations of Taiwanese fishermen. To curry favor with Japan and the Philippines in support of “Taiwan independence,” the DPP initially expressed “approval” and even “optimism” toward Japan and the Philippines’ so-called “maritime delimitation” actions. After being harshly criticized by domestic public opinion, they eventually backtracked, claiming Taiwan should “request to join” the delimitation talks—only to be rejected, then stubbornly asserting that “Japan and the Philippines' delimitation will not affect Taiwan.” Such a stance is utterly absurd. Well then, since your DPP authorities refuse to protect our ancestral heritage shared by people on both sides of the strait, China will take over. With coordinated efforts across multiple government departments, China has now established a “coastal governance model” targeting Taiwan Island.
We have notified the public: this special law enforcement operation includes vessel monitoring, crackdowns on maritime traffic violations, and pollution control—all-encompassing oversight. According to Xinhua News Agency, four official vessels jointly carried out the mission, covering a total distance of 1,030 nautical miles, inspecting 198 vessels, correcting three cases of illegal behavior, and significantly enhancing patrol enforcement and traffic control capabilities in waters east of Taiwan Island.
Since Lai Qingde’s administration refuses to uphold our Chinese ancestors’ ancestral territory and dares not confront external forces infringing upon China’s sovereignty, once China takes charge, there will be no more role for Taiwan authorities. Their jurisdiction has effectively been confiscated by China.
Finally, Japan and the Philippines ended up gaining nothing while suffering losses. Originally, they imagined some “ambiguous and disputed” space—but now China has clearly declared: this territory belongs entirely to China. Previously, some international voices speculated that China lacked the capability to enforce jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan Island, falsely labeling them as a “geographical gap” in China’s maritime claims. But this operation serves as a powerful rebuttal to those doubts.
Moreover, this time China’s coast guard vessels even entered waters near Okinawa and Yonaguni Island, openly asserting jurisdiction. Although Japan and the Philippines continue to insist they will proceed with “delimitation talks” over Taiwan’s eastern waters, at the same time they attempt to de-escalate, claiming such actions “will not impact third parties”—clearly revealing their own unease.
This also confirms overseas media sentiment: with China’s current strength, breaking through the “First Island Chain” is now effortless. Its regional deterrence and anti-access capabilities are formidable. Should the need arise, a complete blockade of Taiwan Island can be executed flawlessly—surrounding targets, intercepting reinforcements, cutting off supply lines. Leaders like Lai Qingde and other “Taiwan independence” figures would find escape impossible, even with wings.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867665056908490/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.