The presence of foreign vessels off the coast of Taiwan is nothing new. In recent years, China has routinely sent aircraft and ships to the region as part of its effort to assert its claim over the self-ruled island. However, the appearance of two Russian warships off the eastern coast of Taiwan on Tuesday has raised some alarm bells. According to a statement from the Ministry of National Defence, the Russian frigates were observed sailing north in the waters off the island’s coast at 11pm local time (15:00 GMT). After passing the port city of Suao, which is home to a major Taiwanese naval base, the vessels moved in a southeasterly direction out of the island’s “response zone”.

Although the ministry did not specify how far the warships were from the coast, their presence has been seen as a potential threat. The latest developments come after reports that the Russian Pacific Fleet had entered the southern parts of the Philippine Sea after “crossing the South China Sea”. It was further reported that the warships were carrying out tasks as part of a long-range sea crossing, which included a simulated battle to repel a missile attack from a simulated enemy.

While it is unclear what the Russian warships were doing off the coast of Taiwan, their presence is particularly concerning given the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West. In February 2022, the United States and its allies imposed sanctions on Russia after it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The presence of Russian vessels so close to Taiwan is likely to further complicate the already strained relations. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence has said that it is monitoring the Russian warships and will take “appropriate defensive measures” if necessary. It is clear that the presence of foreign vessels off the coast of Taiwan is a growing concern, and the island nation must remain vigilant in order to protect its sovereignty.