On December 6, the Chinese mainland’s maritime authorities staged their first emergency search-and-rescue drill in the waters of the Taiwan Shoal in the southern Taiwan Strait 🚨🛟. The exercise aims to boost response times, ensure navigational safety and keep maritime transport running smoothly—think of it as a real-life squad drill at sea.
This week, the Taiwan region’s coast guard authorities accused the Chinese mainland of “harassing” Taiwan and waging “cognitive warfare” by blurring maritime boundaries under the guise of law enforcement. Cognitive warfare here refers to information tactics designed to confuse or influence public perception.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, firmly rejected these claims in response to CGTN. He stressed that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China, and the Chinese mainland holds sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the entire strait. Routine maritime safety supervision—covering navigation, anchoring and other activities—is carried out under Chinese law to keep sea lanes safe for all.
Chen also criticized the DPP authorities for pushing “Taiwan independence” narratives that undermine peace and stability, warning they will “bring consequences upon themselves.”
Meanwhile, the US Congress released the latest text of the National Defense Authorization Act, authorizing up to $1 billion in military assistance to the Taiwan region for fiscal year 2026. The bill calls for a joint unmanned-systems development program with the Taiwan region by March 2026 and expanded integrated training between US forces and the region’s coast guard.
Chen voiced strong opposition to any military contact between foreign countries and the Taiwan region, saying the bill violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, interferes in China’s internal affairs and sends a dangerous signal to separatist forces. He urged the US to honor its commitments on the Taiwan question and stop “arming Taiwan,” warning that reliance on external support will only harm and lead to an “inevitable dead end.”
As cross-strait ties remain sensitive, this latest drill and the US aid debate highlight the delicate diplomatic balance in the region. Stay tuned for more updates 🌏
Reference(s):
Mainland rejects Taiwan's objections after 1st search-and-rescue drill
cgtn.com
