Taiwan says it chased out 4 Chinese coast guard ships from restricted waters

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Four Chinese Coast Guard vessels on Tuesday entered Taiwan’s territorial waters off Kinmen before Taiwan Coast Guard ships drove them out, Taiwan News reported.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard said that four patrol boats, positioned in advance, were sent out to intercept and monitor the Chinese vessels.

The Chinese ships departed from the waters off Kinmen three hours after they arrived.

Kinmen is a group of islands governed by Taiwan, located near China.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard said that Chinese ships have trespassed into Kinmen’s waters 60 times since a Chinese speedboat capsized on Feb. 14, resulting in two deaths, according to Liberty Times.

The Coast Guard said that it continues to monitor the movements of Chinese vessels.

Separately, Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry on Wednesday "strongly condemned" China for "shooting exercises" near Taiwan, according to Focus Taiwan.

According to the Defense Ministry, China conducted a military exercise in waters approximately 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) off Taiwan’s southern Kaohsiung and Pingtung County.

"The Ministry of Defense strongly condemns the demarcation of the zone without any prior notice, which is a blatant violation of international norms," the ministry said.