China's coast guard carried out what it described as routine law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan island on Saturday, state broadcaster CCTV reported, according to Reuters.

Source: Reuters via WIXX

The coast guard has continued to strengthen control over the waters since the start of October to protect the lawful rights and safety of Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, its spokesperson Jiang Lue said, CCTV reported. The coast guard will continue to step up law enforcement patrols in waters under its jurisdiction, he added.

Such patrols are part of an increase in activity since June in the waters east of Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, Reuters reported. China recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the seas around the island.

Officials in Taiwan, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, say they believe China is practising for a potential maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets, according to Reuters. That is Taipei's assessment of the pattern of activity; Beijing describes the patrols as law enforcement in waters under its own jurisdiction.

Why the waters east of Taiwan matter

The east of Taiwan faces the Pacific and is the side of the island furthest from mainland China. Coast guard activity there, rather than only in the Taiwan Strait to the west, is closely watched in Taipei and by regional governments because it bears on how shipping and supply routes around the island could be affected in a crisis.

Saturday's announcement did not name individual vessels, give a number of ships, or report any confrontation, boarding or warning issued to other shipping, according to the CCTV account reported by Reuters. No response from Taiwan's coast guard to Saturday's specific patrols was included in the Reuters report.