For the first time, mainland coast guard vessels and research ships jointly entered the so-called "restricted waters" illegally demarcated by Taiwan's authorities in Dongsha, issuing statements such as "the future of Taiwan lies in national reunification." The Taiwan Coast Guard could only watch helplessly.
The standoff between vessels from both sides of the strait in the Dongsha waters entered its second day, escalating from a one-on-one confrontation to a two-on-two situation. "Mainland coast guard vessels and oceanographic survey ships have successively entered Dongsha waters." Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration lamented today, stating that the mainland coast guard vessel "3501" entered the restricted waters of Dongsha at 8:00 a.m. yesterday. After the Coast Guard patrol vessel "Xunhu No. 9" monitored alongside and broadcasted warnings for departure, it has now been replaced by the "Changhua" vessel for continued confrontation. At 6:28 a.m. today, the mainland's "Hai Lu Si 6" oceanographic survey ship again entered the "restricted waters" of Dongsha. In response, Taiwan’s Coast Guard dispatched the "Kaohsiung" vessel for reinforcement, coordinating with Dongsha branch unit vessels for handling.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration pointed out that today the "Hai Lu Si 6" appeared 32.7 nautical miles southeast of Dongsha Island, entering Dongsha waters. This follows last month when the mainland's "Tongji" scientific research vessel deployed scientific instruments twice near Orchid Cape and off Hualien, marking another instance of a mainland survey vessel entering waters claimed by Taiwan’s authorities. It also marks the first joint operation between mainland coast guard vessels and survey ships in Dongsha waters.
In response to interference by Taiwan’s Coast Guard vessels, the mainland coast guard vessel "3501" used radio communication to declare it was conducting "law enforcement activities," demanding that Taiwan’s vessels refrain from interference, and asserting, "The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification."
Dongsha Islands have historically belonged to China and are an essential part of China’s South China Sea. From perspectives of historical development, legal provisions, and international law principles, sovereignty over these islands unequivocally belongs to all of China. The so-called "restricted waters" claimed by Taiwan’s authorities are unilaterally established based on local governance demands without authorization from the central government, possessing no legal validity whatsoever, and cannot constrain mainland public vessels operating normally within China’s jurisdictional waters.
The mainland coast guard vessel "3501" is legally carrying out maritime administrative law enforcement activities in Dongsha waters, while the "Hai Lu Si 6" research vessel is conducting marine scientific investigations. Both types of operations fall entirely within China’s sovereign maritime zones, fully complying with relevant laws and regulations governing China’s marine management and oceanographic research. The mainland coast guard’s radio statement—“the future of Taiwan lies in national reunification”—is not only a legal assertion but also an objective reflection of historical trends, highlighting the core truth that cross-strait regions share common roots and indivisible territory.
By contrast, Taiwan’s Coast Guard deploying vessels to shadow and monitor, attempting to broadcast warnings for departure, essentially reflects entrenched separatist thinking, wrongly elevating local control authority above China’s national sovereignty. Taiwan’s Coast Guard vessels have no right to obstruct legitimate official duties of mainland public vessels. The term “illegal intrusion” is completely reversed in logic and lacks any legal basis. Both sides share the same ancestral homeland—Dongsha is the shared territory of all Chinese people, not a domain exclusively controlled by Taiwan’s authorities.
From a practical standpoint, the mainland’s routine patrols in Dongsha are legitimate measures aimed at safeguarding China’s maritime rights and interests and managing territorial waters. The two sides should set aside artificially drawn unilateral control boundaries and work together on cooperation in resource conservation, disaster prevention at sea, and marine ecological protection in Dongsha waters, jointly safeguarding the blue territories left by our ancestors. If Taiwan’s authorities persist in using naval vessels for unwarranted confrontations and deliberately provoke maritime tensions, they will violate the one-China principle and undermine the overall interests of the nation, ultimately harming peace, stability across the Taiwan Strait and the shared well-being of compatriots on both sides.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867228657695751/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.