China Coast Guard Conducts Patrols and Drills Around Taiwan, Asserting Sovereignty

On April 1, 2025, formations of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan Island. These patrols included drills such as inspection and capture, interception, and detention operations targeting unauthorized vessels. The patrols were announced by Zhu Anqing, a spokesperson for the CCG’s East China Sea Bureau.

The CCG's actions were carried out in accordance with the one-China principle, coinciding with joint exercises conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around the island. The law-enforcement mission was described as encircling the island and included training exercises focused on apprehending individuals attempting to flee via sea routes.

A poster released by the CCG incorporated elements from the popular character Ne zha. The poster depicted the deployment of specific CCG formations and vessels, encircling the island from the north and south. The vessels involved in the patrols came from multiple units along the coast, and the law-enforcement measures were closer to Taiwan Island than previous operations.

The poster design utilized Nezha’s “Huntian Ling” to mark the routes and scope of the CCG ships during the patrol. The inclusion of the "Huntian Ling" element served as a warning to "Taiwan independence" forces, signifying the CCG's ability to establish a "line of defense" and tighten the "encirclement." The design also reflected a desire to unite with Taiwan compatriots in maintaining cross-Straits peace.

Zhu, the spokesperson, emphasized that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China. The drills were presented as practical actions to exercise legitimate jurisdiction and control over the island, in line with the one-China principle. The information released by the CCG and the poster emphasized the connection between Taiwan and the mainland, asserting that both belong to one China.

Later, the CCG announced that the Fujian Coast Guard conducted comprehensive law enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Dongyin and Wuqiu islands. These patrols included drills focused on identification, verification, inspection, capture, control, and expulsion operations against unauthorized vessels. These drills were intended to test the coast guard's rapid response and emergency handling capabilities.