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China Coast Guard Expands Cutter Patrols East of Taiwan

9/9/2026

9 1 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

China’s Coast Guard deployed cutters east of Taiwan, opening a new maritime front.
Since June 2026, two cutters have patrolled 27,100 square nautical miles each month.
On June 1 the 5,000-ton Daishan and 3,000-ton Baita entered the area.
Later Haixun 09 (10,000-ton) and Haixun 06 (6,600-ton) circled Taiwan with a survey ship.
Patrols remained at least 30 nautical miles from Taiwan’s eastern coast, outside its waters.

History

Historical Context

During the 1995–96 Taiwan Strait crisis, Beijing sent 33 warships and missile batteries, prompting President Lee Teng-hui to call on the United States, which deployed the carrier USS Independence and two destroyers. Decades later, China’s Coast Guard operates the 5,000-ton Daishan and 10,000-ton Haixun 09, covering 27,100 sq nm each month, showing maritime pressure remains Beijing’s core coercive tool.

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Story summary

China’s Coast Guard deployed cutters east of Taiwan, opening a new maritime front.
Since June 2026, two cutters have patrolled 27,100 square nautical miles each month.
On June 1 the 5,000-ton Daishan and 3,000-ton Baita entered the area.
Later Haixun 09 (10,000-ton) and Haixun 06 (6,600-ton) circled Taiwan with a survey ship.
Patrols remained at least 30 nautical miles from Taiwan’s eastern coast, outside its waters.

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