China tests maritime presence east of Taiwan

China is responding to closer cooperation between the Philippines and Japan by expanding its presence east of Taiwan in an apparent bid to establish jurisdiction over waters in the Philippine Sea, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said in a report released on Wednesday.The “unprecedented” Chinese operations — including sustained “law-enforcement” patrols, surveys near Taiwan and questioning nearly 200 commercial vessels — followed a May agreement between Japan and the Philippines to negotiate a maritime boundary, said the research group, which monitors maritime security issues in Asia.The activity could also help normalize a Chinese presence around Taiwan and is stoking concerns that Beijing is testing tactics relevant to a future quarantine or blockade, AMTI said. A ship id