In brief
In a November 2 forum in Tainan, Taiwan’s Coast Guard head Kuan Bi‑ling called for full control over maritime data and surveys, warning that China’s patrols and research‑ship experiments infringe on Taiwan’s jurisdiction. China has increased coast guard and scientific vessel activity around Taiwan’s waters, which the Taiwanese government says breaches international law and threatens important shipping lanes. Both sides emphasize differing claims to sovereignty, with China insisting on peaceful reunification while Taiwan demands respect for its maritime sovereignty.
On Monday, November 2, Taiwan’s head of the Coast Guard, Kuan Bi‑ling, told a sea‑drone forum in Tainan that the island must "master its own information," asserting that Taiwan needs to conduct its own ocean surveys amid a surge of Chinese maritime activity. She explained that the island’s resources, energy and supply chains depend on the sea, and that protecting these waters is not only a domestic concern but also critical for global economic development.
China has repeatedly dispatched coast guard and research vessels to patrol waters around Taiwan, a practice the Taiwanese administration says is a "grey‑zone harassment" campaign designed to pressure Taipei without outright conflict. The latest incident was a Chinese coast guard patrol off Taiwan’s east coast on the weekend before the forum; Taiwan recorded multiple crossings by Chinese research ships as well. Taipei continues to view these movements as illegal incursions into waters it says fall under its jurisdiction.
In a statement following the forum, Kuan emphasised that “Taiwan’s ocean must be surveyed by ourselves, and that we must master our own information.” She said the island requires more equipment and comprehensive intelligence capabilities to spot threats earlier and respond more effectively to the rising level of intimidation from mainland China.
Kuan also highlighted that Taiwan sits on one of the most important shipping routes in the global supply chain. When asked about China’s use of radio messages to harass merchant shipping in waters outside of China’s stated jurisdiction, she reaffirmed that such actions breach international law and that Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects any Chinese claim over its waters.
China maintains that it has no sovereignty over Taiwan, yet operates patrols and research initiatives close to the island on an almost daily basis. In a statement issued Saturday, Beijing warned that it would use force if necessary to bring Taiwan under its control, while also noting that “peaceful reunification” remains its preferred outcome. The dual posture underscores a tense standoff over maritime claims.
The dispute has drawn attention to the strategic importance of Taiwan’s neighboring seas. Taiwan’s coast guard has called for enhanced surveillance infrastructure, citing the need to safeguard critical shipping lanes that transit billions of dollars of cargo each year. The Taiwanese government stresses that any overflight or maritime passage by Chinese vessels laden with contraband or political propaganda is unlawful and must be countered through improved maritime domain awareness.
While Taiwan has articulated clear demands for autonomous coverage of its waters, China’s naval strategy and the continuity of its patrols remain subjects of ongoing debate. The uncertainty over whether Taiwan’s strengthened surveillance will deter further Chinese incursions, or if Beijing will intensify its grey‑zone campaigns, persists as a key question in the unfolding maritime contest.
