(Reuters)
TAIPEI, Oct 20 – Chinese coast guard patrols to the east of Taiwan are “highly destabilising” and an extension of Beijing’s legal, political and information warfare against Taipei, the chair of a US congressional committee said on Tuesday.
China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up activity off the island’s east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols. China recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the seas around the island.
Officials in Taiwan, which rejects Beijing’s territorial claims, say they believe China is practising for a possible maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets.
Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Randall Schriver, chair of the US Congress’ US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said one of the most troubling recent developments he had seen was the idea of a persistent coast guard patrol east of Taiwan.
While the idea of an ostensibly civilian vessel performing law enforcement duties could seem benign, in fact it is an extension of China’s sovereignty claim, he added.
“This is an extension of legal warfare and political and information warfare. This is highly destabilising if they continue to operationalise this law enforcement role.”
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Speaking at the same event, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said China had no legal claim to the waters off the island’s east.
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