China conducts maritime operation east of Taiwan after Japan-Philippines protest
Taiwan deployed five patrol vessels after tracking four Chinese government ships departing Xiamen.
China launched a special maritime law-enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan on June 6, 2026. The move came after Japan and the Philippines, at a May 28 summit in Tokyo, opened talks on the boundaries of their exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Beijing protested because the area under discussion is around waters China claims east of Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said maritime delimitation talks in the region must involve China. Taiwan also objected to Tokyo and Manila's plan and deployed at least five patrol vessels in response to the operation. Taiwan's coast guard said it monitored four Chinese government ships that departed from Xiamen, while Japan said any eventual agreement would not bind third parties.