SYDNEY. China is preparing to extend its maritime law enforcement into the Pacific high seas, raising concerns about potential tensions with Taiwanese fishing fleets and U.S. Coast Guard vessels already operating in the region, Pacific Islands officials said.

Last week, China demonstrated the capabilities of one of its largest coast guard ships, typically used in the Taiwan Strait, to Pacific Island ministers. According to documents and interviews with Pacific fisheries officials, China is also participating in debates over high seas boarding regulations, signaling its interest in conducting patrols in an increasingly crowded maritime space.

“Hosting the leaders, demonstrating their capabilities in terms of maritime operations, those kind of things are indications they want to step into that space,” said Allan Rahari, director of fisheries operations at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), in an interview with Reuters.

The FFA oversees efforts against illegal fishing across 18 Pacific Island nations, with support from the navies and air forces of Australia, the United States, France and New Zealand. Chinese and Taiwanese fishing fleets are among the largest in the Pacific and frequently face infringement notices.

China, however, is also a major fisheries partner for several Pacific nations, and Rahari said agreements for Chinese coast guard patrols in coastal waters could emerge under existing security pacts. In 2024, China registered 26 coast guard vessels with the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for high seas inspections, though it has not yet conducted any.

WCPFC Executive Director Rhea Moss-Christian told Reuters that Chinese officials have become increasingly involved in rule-setting debates. China called for a review of boarding guidelines last year and participated in a video meeting led by Australia in March.

WCPFC inspectors must obtain permission from a vessel’s flag state before boarding in international waters, adding a layer of diplomatic complexity. Rahari noted that boarding Taiwanese fishing boats could be particularly delicate, as China does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Chinese officials and the Chinese Coast Guard did not respond to requests for comment. Australia also declined to comment, while Taiwan and the U.S. Coast Guard did not respond.

Foreign ministers from 10 Pacific Island nations recently visited Xiamen, China, and toured the Haixun 06, a vessel capable of traveling 18,500 km or spending 60 days at sea without resupply. Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the group saw a maritime emergency drill by the Chinese coast guard but did not discuss patrols in Pacific waters.

Papua New Guinea is negotiating a new defense treaty with Australia and signed a 2023 security deal with the United States, giving the U.S. Coast Guard patrol rights over PNG’s exclusive economic zone. Fiji also approved a new maritime security agreement with Australia this week.

Nauru’s government broadcaster posted photos of the Haixun 06 drill, calling it a reaffirmation of maritime cooperation between China and the Pacific. Under a security pact, Nauru must notify Australia before Chinese naval vessels enter its ports.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard has law enforcement agreements with a dozen Pacific Island nations, allowing it to enter exclusive economic zones and step up patrols, which increased last year.

“The key considerations for China is stepping into that space without stepping on other partners’ toes, because that will then create conflicts within the region and that is something we don’t want,” Rahari said.

Earlier this year, Reuters reported that the first U.S. Coast Guard patrol in Vanuatu’s waters uncovered several infringements by Chinese fishing boats, which Beijing later criticized. Since 2008, WCPFC data shows Chinese fishing vessels received 158 infringements during boardings by WCPFC inspectors, while Taiwanese vessels received 233 infringements.