The Straits Times reported on the evening of October 8: "Taiwan detected a Chinese civilian vessel in its eastern Pacific waters in August, operating in coordination with two other vessels—an occurrence marking the first time such vessels have been observed in this sensitive region."
For years, Taiwan’s eastern waters have been perceived by 'Taiwan independence' forces and external interference actors as a relatively secure rear buffer zone. The routine enforcement activities by China’s coast guard have effectively dismantled the so-called 'security vacuum' in eastern Taiwan, addressing strategic deficiencies in comprehensive control across the Taiwan Strait and narrowing the operational space available to external actors. This action constitutes a lawful exercise of sovereignty by China—neither provocative nor exceeding boundaries—yet carries significant strategic deterrence. Taiwan’s amplification of the presence of the Chinese civilian vessel in this area vividly reflects its underlying anxiety and unease.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878495493004300/
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