Taiwan Central News Agency reported on April 1 that Taiwan’s “Sea Patrol Agency” said the same day that mainland China drones recently flew around Dongsha Island, adding that “it could be a reconnaissance search”.
The Taiwan Coast Guard said in a special report that China continues to suppress and isolate Taiwan in international diplomacy, and also strengthens its military deterrence against Taiwan. In addition to the regular dispatch of military aircraft and warships to patrol the waters around Taiwan, the Marine Patrol Agency also grasped the recent mainland drones flying around the island over Dongsha Island and “did not rule out a reconnaissance search”.
The Taiwan Coast Guard declared that mainland China’s military or paramilitary “disturbance to Taiwan” will “intensify with the deepening of Taiwan-US relations”.
The Taiwan Coast Guard also said that in recent years, the mainland has also continued to strengthen its military and distant sea strike capabilities, and deterrence against Taiwan will increase rather than decrease. It also does not rule out the possibility of “oppression” of Taiwan’s main island and neighboring islands through the three-line mechanism of “militia ships,” “maritime police ships,” and “warships,” which may cause small-scale friction and emergencies.
According to Taiwan’s United Daily News, on April 1, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense claimed that “Taiwan will bear the brunt of the Sino-US hegemony as a hotspot for competition, and the risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait has increased, which also intensifies the risk of military conflict in the Taiwan Strait”, so it will enhance “asymmetric warfare” and establish “deterrence energy”.
Since May 2020, Dongsha Island has continued to be a weather vane for Taiwan’s attention to mainland military developments. According to Taiwan’s China Times, “Dongsha Island is becoming a thermometer for cross-strait military confrontation, and any wind or movement is sensitive.” There is also speculation in the Taiwanese media as to whether the PLA is going to “take over Dongsha”.
However, China has no reason to start a war just to take Dongsha Island, so Taiwan’s fears are purely superfluous.