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China militia boat spotted for first time off Taiwan's east coast: Reuters
Taiwan said the vessel was tracked with a coast guard cutter and research ship, as officials warned of harassment drills and blockade rehearsal.
- A Chinese maritime militia boat, identified as the Minfudingyu 07902, was spotted off Taiwan's Pacific coast in mid-August, marking the first known sighting of such a vessel in the area according to a surveillance report by Apex Aviation.
- The militia vessel operated alongside Chinese coast guard cutter 2502 and research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, operating "in coordination with Chinese coast guard maritime harassment drills" to expand operational scope near Taiwan.
- Apex used a civilian aircraft equipped with powerful US-made radar to detect the maritime group more than 30 nautical miles off Hualien, an area critical to Taiwan's wartime supply routes.
- This patrol reflects Taiwan's "whole of society resilience" initiative to involve civilian firms in monitoring; analysts believe the militia fleet helps Beijing assert claims while maintaining civilian appearance to conduct substantive harassment.
- Chinese warships and coast guard vessels continue to operate in overlapping ways, "creating pressure in the waters surrounding Taiwan," said Honor Hung, Apex's defence and security director, though Beijing did not respond to requests for comment.
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EXCLUSIVE: China militia boat spotted for first time off Taiwan's east coast, patrol finds
A Chinese militia boat was spotted along with two other vessels off Taiwan's Pacific coast in August, according to a surveillance report reviewed by Reuters, the first known sighting of such a craft in the sensitive area.
·London, United Kingdom
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A Chinese maritime militia vessel has been spotted for the first time east of Taiwan, along with a coast guard ship and a research vessel, in an area strategically important to the island's supply lines. Taiwanese authorities see the move as part of "harassment exercises" and a possible preparation for a maritime blockade, as China strengthens its presence in the region.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Center, 37% Right
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources are Center, 37% of the sources lean Right
38% Center
L 25%
C 38%
R 37%
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