China defies pushback with another patrol east of Taiwan

Taiwan calls new move illegal, disruptive

Taiwan's government condemned the new patrol, saying it was an "illegal expansion of power in violation of international law and a disruption of regional stability".

"The Chinese communists have no sovereignty or related rights in the waters east of Taiwan, have no jurisdiction over these waters, and none of its official vessels have any law-enforcement authority there," the Mainland Affairs Council, which makes Taiwan's China policy, said in a statement.

Taiwan's coast guard said it was tracking two Chinese ships and had prepositioned two of its own to sail alongside and monitor them. As of mid-morning the two Chinese ships were 54 nautical miles east of Taiwan's Hualien, home to a major air base, but outside of restricted waters, it said in a statement.