China Coast Guard Completes Enforcement Control of All Outlying Islands on the Mainland Side of Taiwan, What Does This Mean? What are Some Insights on This Action?

The recent enforcement patrols by the Fujian Coast Guard represent a significant milestone in China’s assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan. This action sends a clear message that mainland China is steadily tightening control over the Taiwan Strait and surrounding islands in a strategy reminiscent of slowly boiling a frog.

Several key breakthroughs were achieved in this latest patrol:

1. The flotilla was led by 10,000 ton class ships, an unprecedented scale. The 2304, 14606 and 14607 are already formidable, while the 2901 is a 10,000 ton behemoth equipped with 76mm rapid fire naval guns and a top speed of 25 knots. It can easily dominate Taiwan’s coast guard deployment.

2. The patrols evolved from point-to-point to a continuous circumnavigation route, encircling the main island of Taiwan in a comprehensive enforcement exercise that achieves full coverage of Taiwan’s waters.

3. The “Breakline” at Mazu was crossed, giving full control of islands on the mainland side. After an incident where Taiwan’s pseudo coast guard capsized a mainland fishing boat near Kinmen, Zhejiang coast guard has already taken de facto control of that sea area.

Previously, Taiwan authorities considered the waters near Mazu “restricted,” and mainland China didn’t contest it, treating Taiwan as family despite their provocations. However, Taiwan has become increasingly ungrateful, turning its back on the motherland and colluding with foreign anti-China forces. China has every right to take back enforcement rights in the Taiwan Strait, a necessary first step to reunification.

Some key takeaways:

1. The lack of advance notice and midnight timing caught Taiwan off guard, with officials scrambling from their beds to respond by noon, a much slower reaction compared to previous drills. This exposes gaps in Taiwan’s intelligence.

2. The absence of US carriers and supposed “45 minute response” by US forces left Taiwan hanging until the end of the exercise. This slap in the face for Taiwan’s pseudo defense ministry and media has noticeably dampened their previous tough talk.

3. America’s lackluster response, in contrast to previous incidents, betrays its diminishing appetite to challenge China over Taiwan, especially with crises burning in Ukraine, Middle East, and Korean Peninsula.

In summary, through persistent enforcement action just short of sparking direct conflict, China is slowly but surely strangling any notions of Taiwan independence. Like a python tightening its coils, the “one country, two systems” noose is gradually becoming an inescapable reality for Taiwan. Reintegration with the mainland, whether through peaceful or military means, seems increasingly inevitable.