Nikkei: Taiwan and the Philippines Step Up Maritime Cooperation Under Rising Sea Pressure
Taiwan and the Philippines are taking steps to strengthen maritime ties after decades of distance, as activity by Chinese coast guard and other vessels around their waters increases, Nikkei Asia reported on Oct. 19. Reporting from Kaohsiung, the newspaper said analysts believe even small gestures matter as signals that neighbours can cooperate at sea, in areas such as coast guard exchanges, fisheries and maritime safety. The Philippines and Taiwan face each other across the Bashi Channel, with northern Luzon close to Taiwan's southern tip; their fishing grounds overlap, creating practical needs for law-enforcement and rescue cooperation. GSM reported on Oct. 18 that Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration drove away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels near Dongsha and in the Taiwan Strait, while the Philippines continues to confront Chinese vessels in disputed South China Sea waters. No formal agreement was reported; cooperation remains low-key and pragmatic. (GSM, compiled from Nikkei Asia reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：海巡署巡防艇下水（资料图）。總統府 摄，CC BY 2.0，取自维基共享资源。Photo: A Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel at its launch (file photo). By 總統府, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
