China says its coast guard has been running "law enforcement patrols" in the waters around Taiwan's Kinmen islands, and Taipei says that framing is pure propaganda — a bad sign for calm in the strait.

• Taiwan's coast guard says Chinese ships have crossed into Kinmen's restricted waters 81 times over the past two years.
• Taiwan calls the patrols routine harassment, not law enforcement, and says every ship was escorted out.
• Beijing wrapped the announcement in Mid-Autumn Festival messaging, which Taipei reads as an attempt to soften the intrusions.
• Taipei restated that Taiwan and China are separate states and do not answer to each other.
• Taiwan says it is keeping ships on patrol around the clock to protect its waters and its fishermen.

Outlook: The crossings look set to continue, keeping Kinmen a steady flashpoint between Taipei and Beijing.