Taiwan reports first sighting of Chinese maritime militia boat off its east coast

Right · 2A Chinese militia boat was spotted with two other vessels off Taiwan's Pacific coast in August, according to a surveillance report reviewed by Reuters, the first known sighting of such a craft in the area. 1 2 Right · 1The report by Taiwan's Apex Aviation identifies the Minfudingyu 07902 as a fishing boat that doubles as a militia vessel. It was seen operating with a Chinese coast guard cutter and a research vessel one day in mid-August. 1 Right · 1Two senior Taiwan officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Minfudingyu, coast guard cutter 2502 and research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 were operating near Taiwan in mid-August. One said authorities identified the fishing boat as part of the People's Liberation Army's maritime militia, operating in coordination with Chinese coast guard "maritime harassment drills". The other said the three craft were in an area not commonly used by Chinese vessels and were designated for heightened monitoring. 1

Right · 1Apex says a reconnaissance aircraft detected the Chinese maritime group more than 30 nautical miles off Hualien county, with the vessels spread over a radius of about 10 nautical miles. The company withheld the date of the sighting, citing safety concerns over counter-reconnaissance, and said one surveillance pass could not determine the vessels' missions or any coordination among them. 1 Right · 1Taiwan's defence ministry told Reuters that China was "using law enforcement and scientific research as cover for harassment" to expand its operations in a non-conflict scenario and "create an illusion of de facto jurisdiction". It said its military was tracking Chinese activity with reconnaissance tools in coordination with other agencies, including the coast guard. China's Taiwan Affairs Office and defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment. 1 Right · 2China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has stepped up activity off the island's east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols. Taiwanese officials say they believe Beijing is practising for a potential maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets, and Taipei regards the east coast as critical to wartime supply routes. 1 2

Right · 1China's maritime militia, a practice dating to the 1950s and more commonly seen around South China Sea flashpoints, consists of fishing vessels whose crews receive training and support to operate in disputed waters, often alongside coast guard ships. Analysts say it helps Beijing assert maritime claims while keeping a civilian appearance. 1 Right · 1Apex, better known for pilot training and charter flights, flies a civilian light aircraft with US-made radar. It says its patrols are independently run and not carried out for the government, though they reflect Taiwan's push to involve civilian firms in its "whole of society resilience" initiative. 1