A Chinese maritime militia boat has been found operating off Taiwan's Pacific coast for the first time, a troubling sign that Beijing is pushing its pressure campaign to a new and more sensitive stretch of water.

• A Chinese fishing boat that doubles as a militia vessel was tracked off Taiwan's east coast in mid-August.
• It was sailing alongside a Chinese coast guard ship and a research vessel, a pattern long used in the South China Sea.
• Taiwan's defence ministry says China is using law enforcement and science as cover to harass and fake a claim of real control over the area.
• Taiwan's military is now working with its coast guard to track these movements with surveillance tools.
• Militia fleets like this let Beijing press territorial claims while keeping the look of ordinary civilian boats.

Outlook: Expect more of these mixed militia, coast guard and research ship patrols around Taiwan, pushing the pressure beyond the Taiwan Strait into Pacific waters.