00:00Taiwan has detected a sharp rise in Chinese Coast Guard and research vessel activity around the island in June.
00:07Taipei says it recorded 55 Chinese government vessel sightings last month, up from 30 in May amid rising cross-strait
00:14tensions.
00:16The figure marked an 83% increase from the previous month and more than double the 25 sightings recorded a
00:23year earlier.
00:24Taiwan says the increase highlights China's growing use of its Coast Guard to assert territorial claims and pressure the self
00:30-ruled island.
00:32Officials say the activity could also signal that Beijing is rehearsing how to cut off Taiwan's Pacific supply routes in
00:38the event of a conflict.
00:40In response, Taipei is planning drills to simulate a Chinese escalation of its Pacific coast.
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