Chinese Flotilla Surges East of Taiwan Amid Spat with the Philippines, Japan

China deployed six cutters and patrol ships east of the Luzon Strait in its second “special maritime law enforcement operation” following a diplomatic row with the Philippines and Japan. On Saturday, China’s Ministry of Transport led a mission involving the Fujian and Guangdong regional maritime security administrations east of Taiwan. Chinese state media claims that the operation was carried out to protest recent talks between the Philippines and Japan. Taipei has identified a six-ship force operating 140 nautical miles east of the island as of Monday, according to a news release from Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council Joseph Wu.