Chinese maritime task force enters Pacific

A CHINESE maritime task force composed of coast guard, maritime safety and rescue vessels sailed through the Bashi Channel and into the western Pacific on June 7 in what analysts described as a demonstration of Beijing’s use of civilian and paramilitary assets to advance its maritime claims and regional influence. The Bashi Channel, located between Taiwan and the Philippines, is a strategically important waterway connecting the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It forms part of the Fi