China coast guard patrols east of Taiwan, angering Taipei

China’s coast guard conducted patrols it described as routine law enforcement in waters east of Taiwan on Friday, angering Taipei, which condemned the move as a political operation aimed at expanding Beijing’s control.

Over the last decade, China’s Coast Guard has developed into one of the world’s largest maritime law-enforcement agencies, operating a vast fleet of about 680 vessels. While it performs many of the same functions as its global counterparts — responding to emergencies at sea and enforcing maritime law in its jurisdictio

The agencies also recently foiled a chip smuggling operation, Taiwan's coast guard said.