Taiwan detected a sharp rise in Chinese coast guard and research vessel activity around the island in June, prompting Taipei to plan drills simulating Chinese escalations off its Pacific coast, according to Taiwan Coast Guard ​data and officials. Taiwan reported 55 Chinese government vessel sightings, including coast guard and research boats, around the ‌island in June, up from 30 in May, the data showed. The sightings marked an 83% increase from May and a 120% rise from 25 sightings in June last year. The tally excluded sightings around Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast. The figures underscore the growing role of China’s ​coast guard in Beijing’s latest pressure campaign against Taiwan, which angers Taipei and alarms some Western nations including U.S., ​Britain, France and Germany. China’s military operates almost daily around Taiwan, but Beijing has increasingly used its ⁠coast guard to assert its territorial claims in what Taipei calls “lawfare” — efforts to create a legal basis for Chinese ​actions around the island.

Full report : Taiwan says Chinese vessel activity jumps, raising fears for Pacific supply routes.