TAIPEI - Four Chinese coast guard ships briefly sailed through Taiwan’s “prohibited” waters, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that “endanger” navigation safety.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with it, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s government strongly disputes China’s claims.

The Chinese ships entered waters south of Taiwan’s outlying island of Kinmen, 5km from the Chinese city of Xiamen, around 3.30pm on May 6, Taiwan’s coastguard said in a statement later the same day.

The ships “sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters” about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop “behaviour that endangers navigation safety”.

The sorties come weeks before the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te, who China regards as a dangerous separatist.

Like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, Mr Lai rejects China’s claim on Taiwan.

Beijing had also vowed to step up patrols around Kinmen, which is administered by Taipei, after a series of deadly fishing accidents earlier in 2024.

A Chinese speedboat carrying four people capsized near Kinmen on Feb 14 while Taiwan’s coast guard was pursuing it, leaving two dead. Another Chinese boat capsized in the area in March, also leaving two crew members dead.

Taiwan’s coast guard had defended its actions, saying the boat was within “prohibited waters” and was zigzagging before it capsized, but Beijing accused Taipei of “hiding the truth” about the incident.

Defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told reporters on May 7 that Taiwan would boost support to the coast guard in the form of surveillance and reconnaissance of Chinese ships entering the island’s restricted waters.

When asked if the presence of Chinese ships would disrupt the shipping of supplies to Taiwan’s offshore islands, he said “overall we are very well prepared and have full confidence in ensuring regional security”, adding that “there is no abnormality in the Taiwan Strait at the moment”.

“We have made the most complete preparations taking into account the enemy’s threats and can cope with any unexpected situation,” Mr Sun said.

Given the heightened tensions, Taipei said it is on alert for potential military exercises by Beijing after May 20. AFP