A Chinese maritime militia boat has turned up off Taiwan's Pacific coast for the first time, a worrying sign that Beijing is probing a side of the island it has mostly left alone.

• A fishing boat that doubles as a militia vessel was tracked near Taiwan's east coast in August.
• It sailed alongside a Chinese coast guard ship and a research vessel, a mix that suggests coordinated activity rather than fishing.
• Taiwan's coast guard says it watched the ships the whole time and that they stayed outside restricted waters.
• Taiwan's east coast matters because it faces the open Pacific and has long been seen as the safer, less exposed side of the island.

Outlook: Expect more Chinese grey-zone pressure on Taiwan's eastern waters, with Taipei leaning on surveillance rather than confrontation.