On December 6, the Chinese mainland's maritime authorities held their first emergency search-and-rescue drill around the Taiwan Shoal in the southern Taiwan Strait 🚢. The exercise aims to boost maritime emergency response, from navigation supervision to anchoring checks, ensuring safety and smooth transport in these busy waters.
After the drill, the Taiwan region's coast guard authorities accused the Chinese mainland of “harassing” Taiwan and engaging in “cognitive warfare” by blurring maritime boundaries under the guise of law enforcement. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, firmly rejected these claims. He stressed that both sides of the strait belong to China, and that routine safety supervision is fully legal and necessary to keep vessels safe 🌊.
Chen also criticized the Taiwan authorities for pushing “Taiwan independence” narratives, warning that such moves undermine peace and stability in the strait and “will ultimately bring consequences upon themselves.” 🤝
Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress recently released the latest National Defense Authorization Act, approving up to $1 billion in military assistance to the Taiwan region for fiscal year 2026. The bill calls for launching a joint unmanned-systems development program by March 2026 and expanding integrated training between U.S. forces and the region's coast guard. Chen voiced strong opposition, saying the bill violates the one-China principle and three joint communiqués, interferes in China's internal affairs, and sends a dangerous signal to separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence.”
He urged the United States to honor its commitments on the Taiwan question and stop “arming Taiwan.” According to Chen, attempts by the DPP to rely on foreign military support “will only lead to harm now and to an inevitable dead end.”
Reference(s):
Mainland rejects Taiwan's objections after 1st search-and-rescue drill
cgtn.com
