The U-S government says China move to send coast guard vessels to waters east
of Taiwan "deeply destabilizing" and is calling on Beijing to end its
pressure campaign against Taiwan.

This, after a China Coast Guard formation was spotted off eastern Taiwan last
Friday.

A spokesperson for the China Coast Guard says the same task force has
strengthened control over the relevant waters to "safeguard the legitimate
rights and interests, as well as the lives and property, of fishermen on both
sides of the Taiwan Strait."

A U-S State Department spokesperson however says China is exacerbating
tensions and undermining the peaceful resolution of issues it claims to seek,
by asserting authority over maritime areas that Taiwan has peacefully
administered for over 70 years.

The spokesperson also says Washington is urging Beijing to cease its pressure
against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's
democratically elected authorities.