Taipei Cries 'Hybrid Warfare' as Taiwan Coast Guard Drives Off 16 Chinese Vessels

Taiwan's coast guard has repelled and driven off 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels accused of conducting 'maritime harassment' around Taiwan's main island. Taipei has criticised Beijing's activity as a form of 'hybrid warfare.'

The information was given in a statement issued by Taiwan's coast guard on Sunday (18 October). According to the statement, an unusually large number of Chinese vessels took part in coordinated activity around Taiwan's main island and near the disputed Pratas Island to the southwest; four fishing boats were also involved at the same time.

Taipei calls the episode 'hybrid warfare' because, it alleges, China did not use conventional military force or warships directly, but instead applied multifaceted pressure at once through a mixture of civilian and paramilitary vessels.

Taiwan's coast guard said its vessels immediately took strict measures to deal with the situation. It also accused Beijing of trying to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and of creating a false impression of sole control. Several Chinese vessels had also entered Taiwan's restricted waters, the coast guard said.

Behind the incident lies a long-running sovereignty dispute. Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taipei's administration rejects that, while China asserts jurisdiction over the surrounding waters. President Xi Jinping's government has also threatened to use force if necessary to establish control over the island.

An earlier incident is also notable. On 1 October, Taiwan's coast guard fired water cannon at a Chinese-claimed recreational fishing boat near Pratas Island, between Taiwan and the mainland.

In recent months China has multiplied its maritime pressure on Taiwan, according to Taiwanese government data. In July this year Beijing deployed a record 244 coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around Taiwan's main island, compared with only 58 in the same period last year.

In the first 21 days of August alone, 152 vessels were detected. Most were Chinese coast guard ships, but fishing boats and research vessels were also among them. Chinese warships are also seen deployed around Taiwan almost daily, though they are counted separately from these coast guard figures.

This upward trend in numbers is the main cause of Taipei's concern. The continuous presence of civilian and paramilitary vessels puts pressure on normal maritime movement and is also seen as an attempt to gradually change the reality of the waters.

Even after the 16 vessels were driven off in this latest incident, there is no sign of tensions easing. The maritime tug-of-war between Beijing and Taipei around the Taiwan Strait looks set to remain at the centre of regional security discussion in the days ahead.