Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) East China Sea Bureau, says that on April 1, 2025, Coast Guard vessel formations conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan Island, and carried out drills such as inspection and capture, interception and detention operations against unwarranted vessels. Photo: Screenshot from WeChat account of the CCG

China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels on Tuesday conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters around Taiwan island in accordance with the one-China principle, amid the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command's joint exercises around the island.

A source told the Global Times that the law-enforcement mission encircled the island, and specifically included the training courses of arresting "Taiwan independence” separatists attempting to flee via sea routes. A poster released by the CCG used a large number of elements from the popular Ne zha, making it easier for the audience to understand the Chinese mainland’s sincerity in uniting the vast number of Taiwan compatriots and its determination to combat "Taiwan independence".

Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the CCG's East China Sea Bureau, said on Tuesday that China Coast Guard vessel formations conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan island, and carried out drills such as inspection and capture, interception and detention operations.

A mission poster showing details of this law-enforcement operation was released simultaneously.

The poster depicted that the CCG dispatched the 1107 formation, the 1303 formation, the 2304 formation as well as the vessels 2302, 2305 and 2307, which encircled the island from the north and south.

The source said that the CCG vessels participating in the law-enforcement patrols come from multiple units from several provinces along the coast, and the distance of the law-enforcement measures are closer to the Taiwan island than last time. From May and October of last year to today, the CCG’s force deployment is coming closer, showing that the more serious the provocations are, the tighter the stranglehold will be.

On the poster design, the CCG used Nezha’s “Huntian Ling” as lines to mark the routes and law enforcement scope of CCG ships during this law enforcement patrol mission around the island.

Huntian Ling is a weapon of Nezha in Chinese ancient mythology, which can not only bind enemies and change length automatically, but can also be repaired automatically even if it is cut. The source said that, given the inspection and capture, interception and detention operations practiced in the mission, the inclusion of the Huntian Ling element in the poster serves as a warning to "Taiwan independence" forces: the CCG can establish a "line of defense" around Taiwan Island, tighten the "encirclement," and bring the "Taiwan independence" forces who attempt to flee to justice when necessary. 

It is worth mentioning that the Huantian Ling in the poster did not completely close during the encirclement of Taiwan Island, but opened toward the mainland. The above-mentioned source said that this design also reflects our sincerity in striving to unite the vast number of Taiwan compatriots in maintaining cross-Straits peace: the Huntian Ling in the poster can be regarded as the "encirclement" on Taiwan Island, but can also be regarded as a "bond," showing the bloodline of compatriots on both sides of the Straits. Compatriots on both sides of the Straits should unite in unity, work together to jointly oppose the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Zhu, the spokesperson, said that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China. These drills are practical actions to exercise legitimate jurisdiction and control over the island in accordance with the one-China principle. The source noted that the information released by the CCG and the poster specifically emphasize the connection between Taiwan and the mainland, asserting that both belong to one and the same China. This also underscores the overall control of the CCG's law enforcement around Taiwan.

Later on the Tuesday, the CCG announced that the Fujian Coast Guard organized its vessel formations to conduct comprehensive law enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Dongyin and Wuqiu islands, and carried out drills of identification and verification, inspection and capture, and control and expulsion operations against unwarranted vessels. These drills are aimed at testing rapid response and emergence handling capabilities of the coast guard.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Tuesday started joint exercises around Taiwan island. The drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and are a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard sovereignty and national unity, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command.