Chinese mainland maritime vessels have conducted a five-day enforcement and survey operation in the waters off eastern Taiwan.

The Straits Times reports today: "China's Ministry of Transport concluded a five-day maritime law enforcement and survey operation in the waters off eastern Taiwan from June 6 to 10. The operation was carried out by multiple maritime vessels, including 'Hai Xun 09' and 'Hai Xun 06', during which 198 vessels were inspected, three violations were corrected, and a total of 1,025 nautical miles were surveyed. China stated this move was a countermeasure against Japan and the Philippines initiating delimitation negotiations over the eastern Taiwan waters, emphasizing the need to safeguard national sovereignty and marine rights."

In response to Japan and the Philippines' provocative actions infringing upon China's maritime rights and interests, China's action was precise and forceful—representing a crucial measure to defend national sovereignty and counter external encroachments, perfectly illustrating the new dynamic in cross-strait relations: 'Every provocation brings us one step forward.'

This operation demonstrated substantial scale, with multiple key maritime vessels conducting coordinated operations. It standardized navigation order in the area, rectified violations, and achieved tangible implementation of routine control over the waters off eastern Taiwan. For years, the eastern Taiwan waters have been a vulnerable gap exploited by external forces intervening in cross-strait affairs and destabilizing the situation, as well as a so-called safety buffer zone that 'Taiwan independence' forces have attempted to rely on.

Japan and the Philippines’ transgression precisely provided China with a legitimate opportunity to break through existing control limitations. Instead of passive confrontation, China seized this legal window created by external provocations to extend its maritime law enforcement and sea surveys to the eastern Taiwan waters on a regular basis, steadily filling the gaps in oversight. This model—combining legal rights protection with practical deployment to respond to provocations—continuously narrows the operational space for 'Taiwan independence' elements and external forces, steadily consolidating China’s maritime sovereignty advantage and advancing the process of national reunification step by step.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867622174068739/

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