China has maintained increased patrols near Kinmen, Taiwanese-controlled islands that are just a few miles off the coast of the mainland, where US Army Special Forces are now stationed.
The Chinese Coast Guard stepped up its presence near Kinmen, known as Quemoy in China, after two Chinese fishermen died last month when their boat capsized while being chased by Taiwan’s Coast Guard.
According to The South China Morning Post, eight Chinese Coast Guard vessels patrolled waters near Kinmen on Friday and Saturday. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office described the patrols as a “normal act” because “Taiwan is a part of China and regular law enforcement in waters near Quemoy is the duty of the mainland Coast Guard.”
Taiwanese authorities said they warned off the Chinese vessels and condemned the patrols. “The move has seriously impacted traffic and safety. To avoid triggering naval incidents we urge them to stop such behavior,” Taiwan’s Coast Guard said.
The US also condemned the Chinese patrols, which occurred near islands that are only 2.5 miles away from the Chinese city of Xiamen. According to the Post, a US State Department official said Beijing’s “continued provocations” in waters close to Kinmen “revealed its intention to unilaterally change the status quo.”
The latest incident came after Taiwan confirmed US Green Berets were now permanently stationed on Kinmen as part of a new training arrangement. The US presence on the island was first reported by Taiwanese media last month before the two Chinese fishermen died near Kinmen.
The highly provocative deployment follows a pattern of the US increasing diplomatic and military support for Taiwan as part of its strategy against China in the region. While the US steps are being taken in the name of deterrence, Chinese officials have repeatedly warned Taiwan is a major red line, and the increased US involvement on the island makes war more likely.
I am old enough to remember when the Yankee Empire was ready to go to war over Quemoy and Matsu, more than sixty years ago.
We have always been at war with East Asia.
Stupid yet true. Austerity to contain Americans is the purpose.
The bank of Japan has stopped its negative interest rate and changed to a very small positive rate which is considered a boon for China’s economy. Biden’s economic war with China will be going nowhere and Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on all imports from China is ludicrous.
All nations in East Asia know the resilience of the Chinese economy and its producers, the people of China, who have produced its industrial revolution in half or even less than half of the time which it took us.
There is going to be a war China sooner or later. The US can not compete with what China is offering,aid without strings. A growing economy which the US does not have and not the accumulation of wars and exploitation. The US will never accept China as a leader of the world so it will be bombs and missiles away.