TAINAN, Taiwan — Taiwan must be the master of its own maritime information and conduct its own ocean surveys given the island's fate rests on protecting its waters, the minister in charge of the Coast Guard said on Monday.

Source: Reuters

Speaking at a sea drone forum in the southern city of Tainan, Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which runs the Coast Guard, said Taiwan's resources, energy, and the transport of supplies all depend on the ocean. "Taiwan also sits on one of the most important shipping routes in the global supply chain. Therefore, protecting these waters concerns not only the daily lives of Taiwan's people but also global economic development," she said.

"We maintain that Taiwan's ocean must be surveyed by ourselves, and that we must master our own information," Kuan added. To counter the risks, she said, the Coast Guard needs more equipment and more comprehensive intelligence to spot threats earlier and respond more effectively.

Taiwan has complained of a stepped-up harassment campaign by China to assert sovereignty and jurisdiction claims over its waters using both Coast Guard and scientific research ships — activities Kuan described as "grey-zone harassment", designed to pressure and wear out Taiwan's forces while stopping short of outright combat. China recognises no sovereignty claims by Taiwan.

The pressure has been visible in recent days. Taiwan's Coast Guard said a Chinese coast guard vessel entered restricted waters near the Pratas Islands, southwest of Taiwan's main island, early on Saturday and was intercepted by a Taiwanese vessel and instructed to leave — the 13th such intrusion near the Pratas this year, involving 16 vessels in total. China also said on Saturday that it had sent another Coast Guard patrol in the waters off Taiwan's east coast, saying it would continue law-enforcement patrols in waters it calls its jurisdiction.

Taiwan has also reported several incidents this year of Chinese research ships sailing near the island, says China's military operates around Taiwan on an almost daily basis, and accuses Beijing of harassing merchant shipping with radio messages in waters that are not under Chinese jurisdiction.

Taiwan's democratically elected government says China has no jurisdiction over any of its waters and is in breach of international law by trying to prove otherwise with its patrols. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, but says it would prefer "peaceful reunification".