The Chinese maritime safety administration of Fujian has begun a three-day special combined patrol and inspection operation that includes boarding ships in the center and northern regions of the Taiwan Strait.
The operation occurs at a time when tensions are high between China and Taiwan, since on Wednesday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited California, where U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted her.
Direct cargo ships and construction vessels on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were inspected “to ensure the safety of vessel navigation and the operation of key projects on water,” according to the maritime safety authority in the southeastern Chinese province.
The Taiwanese government’s Maritime and Ports Bureau said it has strongly protested the move to China. According to the statement, it has told the shipping companies involved that they should say no to such requests from China and instead ask for help from Taiwan’s coast guard.
