Editorial: Taiwan Asserts Itself in East China Sea

Taiwanese Coast Guard Vessel (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Zachary Keck

The Taiwanese Coast Guard and Military conducted a simulated fire drill and patrols in the East China Sea last week.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard and Military held a simulated fire drill and patrolled in the East China Sea last week, even as Taiwan’s President continued to promote his East China Sea peace initiative.

According to detailed press accounts in Taiwan’s media this week, last week Taiwan’s Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force conducted combined patrols and drills in areas of the East China Sea from February 17^th through February 19^th.

The drills and patrols took place within Taiwan’s “provisional law enforcement boundary,” which covers all waters stretching 270 nautical miles off of the island’s northern trip. These waters also overlap with both China and Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZs). China’s Chunxiao gas field also falls within Taiwan’s provisional law enforcement boundary.

The local press reports said the drills showed that Taiwan would not be beholden to the ADIZ that China announced in the East China Sea last November. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat