Evolving forms of Chinese diplomatic, political, legal and maritime pressure are hitting Taiwan all at once, officials and diplomats say, constricting Taipei’s strategic options. Beijing over the weekend announced a new “law enforcement” patrol in waters east of Taiwan, imposing jurisdiction that Taipei rejects and defying international criticism of similar recent actions. China said it was protecting its “territorial sovereignty” while Taiwan called the move an “illegal expansion of power in violation of international law.” Also raising alarms is a sweeping “ethnic unity” law that took effect in China on July 1, requiring that all Chinese citizens uphold national “unification.” Many experts say the law, which asserts extraterritorial reach, could give Beijing a basis to go after Taiwanese it considers “separatists.”

Full report : China launches coast guard patrol east of Taiwan despite international pushback.