Story perspectives

Taiwan Expels Chinese Ships from Taiping Zone, US Warns Beijing

6/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Taiwan’s coast guard expelled Chinese vessels after they entered the prohibited zone around Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island and stayed 15 minutes.
The Chinese coast guard’s special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation east of Taiwan inspected 198 vessels before ending on June 11.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung called the patrols a pretext for expansion that violates international law.
The U.S. State Department urged Beijing to cease coercive actions toward Taiwan.

History

Historical Context

In March 1996 the United States sent two carrier battle groups, including the USS Nimitz and USS Independence, to the Taiwan Strait as a visible deterrent during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. That precedent of U.S. naval pressure informs today’s response, when Taiwan’s Coast Guard expelled Chinese vessels from the Taiping Island zone and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung condemned Beijing’s coercive law-enforcement.

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Story summary

Taiwan’s coast guard expelled Chinese vessels after they entered the prohibited zone around Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island and stayed 15 minutes.
The Chinese coast guard’s special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation east of Taiwan inspected 198 vessels before ending on June 11.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung called the patrols a pretext for expansion that violates international law.
The U.S. State Department urged Beijing to cease coercive actions toward Taiwan.

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