China's Giant Coast Guard Ship Joins War Games near Taiwan

On Monday, China added a special touch to its military exercises near Taiwan. For the first time, one of its massive coast guard ships, known as a "monster ship," joined the drills. This ship, with the hull number 2901, is the largest coast guard vessel in the world, weighing in at 12,000 tons. The exercises, called Joint Sword-2024B, took place in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. China sent a record number of aircraft, warships, and coast guard vessels to participate. China claims these ship formations were conducting law enforcement patrols around Taiwan. They said this was to manage and control the island under the one-China principle. But why did China use such a big ship? Some experts think it's to show off their power and intimidate Taiwan. Taiwan and mainland China have been separate since 1949. Both sides claim to be the true government of China. The Chinese coast guard ship 2901 is 541 feet long and can reach speeds over 28 miles per hour. It's known for its strength and speed compared to other coast guard ships. On Monday, another Chinese ship formation conducted patrols near some Taiwanese islands. Taiwan's coast guard claimed to have expelled four Chinese ships from their waters. This isn't the first time Chinese ships have been in these areas. They've been patrolling in the wider Pacific Ocean, including near Alaska. The Chinese coast guard has the biggest fleet in the world, with over 150 large vessels. Some of these were once part of China's navy. The use of these ships in war games shows China's growing naval power. But it also raises concerns about potential conflicts in the region.