China considers the self-governing island part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.
The Chinese ships entered waters south of Taiwan’s Jinmen Island, five kilometers from China’s Xiamen, at around 3pm on Monday. 30 minutes local (10:30 a.m. Lithuanian) time, according to a statement from the Taiwan Coast Guard published later on the same day.
About an hour later, the ships “left our prohibited and restricted waters,” the agency said, calling on Beijing to immediately end actions that endanger shipping security.
The latest incident was reported in the run-up to the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, whom China considers a dangerous separatist.
Lai Ching-te, like Taiwan’s outgoing president Tsai Ing-wen, rejects China’s claims to Taiwan.
China has said it will step up patrols around the Jinmen Islands after several fatal incidents involving fishermen.
On February 14, two people were killed when a Chinese ship with four crew members capsized near Taiwan’s Jinmen Islands under the watchful eye of the Taiwanese Coast Guard.
Another Chinese ship also capsized there in March, also killing two crew members.
Taiwan’s coast guard defended its actions, saying the ship was in “forbidden waters” and zigzagging before capsizing, but Beijing accused Taipei of “hiding the truth” about the incident.
Taiwanese Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Lifang told reporters at a rehearsal for the inauguration ceremonies on Tuesday that Taiwan would increase support for its coast guard by providing more surveillance and intelligence tools.
When asked if the presence of Chinese ships would disrupt the supply of goods to the islands of Taiwan, he said that “in general, we are very well prepared and we are absolutely confident that we will ensure the security of the region.”
He added that “there are currently no anomalies in the Taiwan Strait.”
“Considering the threats posed by the enemy, we have fully prepared and can deal with any unexpected situation,” Sun Li-fang said.
Taiwanese officials have said they are ready for possible military exercises by Beijing after May 20, responding to heightened tensions in the region.
