On Saturday, China officially announced the launch of a special operation in the waters east of Taiwan. According to a statement by the Ministry of Transport of the PRC, the goal of the event is to ensure compliance with maritime law and protect national interests.
Beijing's decision was a direct response to the actions of Japan and the Philippines, which earlier this week initiated negotiations on the delimitation of maritime borders in the same region. In China, such steps were perceived as a serious violation of sovereignty and an infringement on its maritime rights.
Goals and scale of the operation
The official statement by the ministry emphasizes that the operation is aimed at the full exercise of powers under administrative maritime law. In particular, the authorities plan to enhance deep-sea patrol capabilities and strengthen control over vessel movement in key waters.
As part of the special operation, maritime agencies from the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, as well as the East China Sea, were deployed. This is not Beijing's first step in this direction: on June 1, China sent coast guard vessels to these waters to demonstrate its dissatisfaction with the situation.
Preconditions for escalation
Tensions in the region have been building for a long time. Last month, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that his country would likely intervene in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, given the island's proximity. At the same time, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a PRC invasion of Taiwan could be grounds for sending Japanese troops.
The reaction to the neighbors' actions was twofold. On May 26, Taiwan sent its ships and fighters to monitor the second combat patrol of Chinese forces near the island in a week.
US position and the Trump factor
The situation is causing serious concern in Washington. According to Axios, advisors to US President Donald Trump fear that China may attempt a military invasion of Taiwan within the next five years.
Although the US has traditionally supplied arms to Taiwan, following a personal meeting between Donald Trump and PRC President Xi Jinping, this issue remains unresolved. After the conversation, Trump stated that he does not support the declaration of Taiwan's independence, adding uncertainty to the strategy of supporting the island.