Beijing is tightening its grey-zone grip around Taiwan. China’s Coast Guard has launched a replacement patrol fleet directly off Taiwan’s sensitive eastern waters, moving within 54 nautical miles of Hualien—home to one of Taipei's most strategic air force bases. Taiwan’s Coast Guard immediately deployed its own vessels to shadow the Chinese fleet, while President Lai Ching-te issued an unprecedented command ordering all local Taiwanese vessels to completely ignore any inspection or boarding demands from Beijing. Lai reasserted that Taiwan’s refusal to accept unification with the Chinese Communist Party should never be seen as a provocation.