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TAIPEI: Taiwan’s coast guard said on Sunday its vessels were in a “standoff” with Chinese ships involved in an operation in waters southeast of the island democracy.
Chinese state media reported on Saturday that the “law enforcement operation” was in response to talks between Japan and the Philippines to draw a boundary in waters to the east of Taiwan.
China, which asserts Taiwan is part of its territory, called the talks “illegal” and has claimed exclusive control over the waters.
Taiwan’s coast guard said its vessels had “expelled” four Chinese ships from the island’s “restricted waters”, and were now 33 nautical miles (61 kilometres) southeast of the island’s southernmost tip.
