Taipei: Taiwan says it chased out four Chinese coast guard ships from restricted waters off Kinmen, a group of islands governed by Taiwan located near China. The incursion occurred on Tuesday, with the Chinese vessels entering Taiwan's territorial waters before being driven out by Taiwan Coast Guard ships.

According to Anadolu Agency, Taiwan's Coast Guard dispatched four patrol boats, positioned in advance, to intercept and monitor the Chinese vessels. The Chinese ships departed from the waters off Kinmen three hours after their arrival. This incident marks the 60th time Chinese ships have trespassed into Kinmen's waters since a Chinese speedboat capsized on February 14, resulting in two deaths, according to Liberty Times. The Coast Guard confirmed its ongoing efforts to monitor the movements of Chinese vessels.

Separately, Taiwan's National Defense Ministry on Wednesday "strongly condemned" China for conducting "shooting exercises" near Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, the Defense Ministry reported that China conducted a military exercise in waters approximately 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) off Taiwan's southern Kaohsiung and Pingtung County. The ministry criticized the demarcation of the zone without prior notice, labeling it a violation of international norms.