A Lienchiang-class vessel of the Coast Guard Administration, right, responds to a China Coast Guard ship in waters northwest of Huayu Island on Monday. Photo: Taiwan Coast Guard, AFPTaiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it relies “overwhelmingly” on energy imports, the institute said. The drills also featured China Coast Guard vessels operating alongside PLA Navy ships, reflecting Beijing’s strategy of combining civilian law enforcement forces with military assets during a blockade, the institute said. China has used similar tactics in the South China Sea, with coast guard ships confronting foreign vessels directly while naval forces maintain an outer security perimeter, it added. In the event of a Taiwan blockade, the China Coast Guard would likely intercept Taiwanese commercial and government vessels, while the PLA Navy would seek to deter foreign military intervention, the report said.

Source: Taipei Times January 03, 2026 17:13 UTC