China deploys record number of ships around Taiwan as pressure grows

China deployed a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other ships in Taiwan's waters in July, the island's coast guard has said, as Beijing dials up pressure on Taipei.



Taiwan's coast guard warned of an increasingly severe situation, as analysts say the increased activity is part of China's bid to map the region for submarine warfare.



China's Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island democracy is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it. China also asserts jurisdiction over Taiwan's surrounding waters.



The number of Chinese ships detected around Taiwan's main island soared to a record 244 in July, an average of nearly eight every day, official data show.



That compares with 55 ships detected in June and 30 in May, and 58 in July 2025.



In the first 21 days of August, 152 vessels were detected.



About 60 per cent are coast guard ships, with research vessels and other government boats making up the rest.



The figures do not include Chinese warships, which China’s military deploys around Taiwan on a near-daily basis.