China Coast Guard conducts routine patrols east of China’s Taiwan Island; regularized law-enforcement operation necessary to defend rights, restore order: expert

In China on 4 July 2026, the China Coast Guard conducted patrols east of Taiwan and rotated its patrol task group there. China's state media described them as routine law-enforcement patrols, and a Global Times expert said such regularized operations are necessary to defend rights and restore order.

Reuters said China launched the patrol despite international pushback, and tensions between China and Taiwan rose. Taipei deployed its own coast guard, and TASS said Chinese maritime police would increase activity in the waters east of Taiwan.