China Uses "Marine Environmental Survey" as Pretext for Further Harassment in East China Sea Near Taiwan

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Following its recent "special maritime traffic enforcement and survey operation" in waters east of Taiwan, China today announced it is conducting a marine environmental survey in the waters east of Taiwan from June 16 to 18, claiming it is to "comprehensively understand the natural ecological conditions of China's jurisdictional waters."

After a summit on May 28, Japan and the Philippines issued a joint statement announcing the launch of negotiations on maritime boundaries for their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and continental shelves. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed opposition, asserting that China has EEZs and continental shelves in the waters east of Taiwan. Subsequently, the China Coast Guard dispatched the Daishan ship fleet to conduct "law enforcement patrols" in the waters east of Taiwan on June 1, followed by multiple vessels harassing waters east of Taiwan and Japan's EEZ.

Regarding Chinese official vessels using the Japan-Philippines negotiations as a cover to harass waters east of Taiwan with coast guard and maritime vessels, the Coast Guard Administration had previously stated that it had deployed vessels in advance to monitor their movements throughout the entire process.

Following the recent harassment actions, China's Ministry of Natural Resources announced on its official website today that "to comprehensively understand the natural ecological conditions of our country's jurisdictional waters and support marine ecological protection, from June 16 to 18, the 'Xiangyanghong 22' vessel of the East China Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources conducted a marine environmental survey in the waters east of Taiwan Island."

China's Ministry of Natural Resources claimed that "this survey adopted multi-disciplinary synchronous survey methods, collecting data on seawater environmental DNA, birds, cetaceans, marine chemistry, and hydrometeorology. This lays the foundation for our country to further grasp the key habitat conditions in this sea area and conduct evaluations of ecosystem health, and also provides a scientific basis for carrying out marine biodiversity protection in this sea area."

Xinhua News Agency previously reported that from June 6 to 10, China's Ministry of Transport, in conjunction with the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, East China Navigation Support Center, and East China Rescue Bureau, jointly carried out a "special maritime traffic enforcement and survey operation in the waters east of Taiwan Island," conducting maritime patrols and enforcement, and surveying key sea areas such as east of Taiwan Island.

The report claimed that "this is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the launch of 'maritime delimitation negotiations' east of Taiwan Island, which seriously infringes upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

In response to China's harassment actions, the Mainland Affairs Council had previously emphasized that Taiwan will continue to consult with Japan and the Philippines on maritime issues and does not need the Chinese Communist Party to interfere. (Editor: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150618

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