Chinese Coast Guard Harassing Dongsha: Scholar Says CCP Uses Coast Guard Enforcement to Emphasize "Internal" Legal Implications
2026/05/31 18:04 Reporter Huang Jingxuan / Taipei Report
Lin Yingyu, Associate Professor at the Graduate Institute of Strategic Studies at Tamkang University, stated that China's use of coast guard vessels around Taiwan and the Dongsha area has purposes beyond encirclement and isolation, also carrying legal implications.
Since the "0214 Three No's Fishing Boat Incident" two years ago, Chinese coast guard vessels have begun intruding into Kinmen waters. Last February, they similarly harassed the Dongsha sea area. In response, Lin Yingyu said on the 31st that China uses coast guard enforcement around Taiwan and Dongsha to emphasize that these areas belong to China. Beyond encirclement and isolation, there is a legal dimension.
Lin noted that May and June are periods of high frequency for PLA exercises, and PLA naval vessels have been seen patrolling the East China Sea and South China Sea, with no reduction in the Taiwan Strait.
Lin pointed out that the CCP hopes to enforce laws through its maritime police in the Taiwan Strait, around Taiwan, and in the Dongsha area to stress that these places are part of China. Generally, the navy deals with external affairs while the coast guard handles internal matters. Thus, coast guard enforcement underscores that China is conducting internal law enforcement actions, which carries legal implications beyond encirclement and isolation.
After the Kinmen "0214 Three No's Fishing Boat Incident," China learned to use the coast guard to exert maritime pressure on Taiwan. Moreover, since the year before last, the Chinese coast guard has joined PLA maritime patrols, and large-scale military exercises targeting Taiwan such as Joint Sword, Strait Thunder, and Righteous Mission have also begun incorporating coast guard vessels.
As for how to respond, Lin believes that when Coast Guard vessels go on patrol, recording devices like body cameras must remain operational to preserve evidence. The situation where cameras were not used during the Kinmen incident must not be repeated.
Lin also pointed out that Chinese coast guard harassment not only harms Taiwan but also affects the South China Sea and East China Sea. Taiwan can take this opportunity to cooperate with other countries.
