The Ministry of Natural Resources in China conducted a research operation in the waters east of Taiwan in August. The authorities in Beijing said that the mission will help them create “a unique map” for territorial planning and resource management.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard has reported that on August 21, it warned and tracked a Chinese vessel sailing in waters near the island. The incident is the third since May when the ship made its appearance, in an action that Taipei considers a continuous maritime provocation, reports Agerpres.
The research activity, carried out from August 10 to 31, aimed at understanding the basic geological and structural characteristics of the seabed in maritime areas under China’s jurisdiction, Chinese authorities stated.
The Coast Guard condemned China’s actions, accusing them of harassment.
China considers Taiwan, democratically governed, as its own territory and does not recognize any kind of sovereignty claim from the Taipei government, including in the waters around the island.