China's maritime authorities conducted their first emergency search-and-rescue drill in the waters of the Taiwan Shoal on December 6, a move aimed at strengthening maritime emergency response capabilities in the southern Taiwan Strait.

Following the exercise, the Taiwan region's coast guard authorities accused the Chinese mainland of "harassing" Taiwan and engaging in "cognitive warfare" by blurring maritime boundaries under the guise of law enforcement. In response to CGTN's question regarding these claims, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, firmly rejected the accusations.

Chen said both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China and that the mainland possesses sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the entire strait. Routine maritime safety supervision, covering navigation, anchoring and other maritime activities, is carried out in accordance with the law, he noted, with the aim of ensuring navigational safety, maintaining order and improving efficiency in maritime transport.

He criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for disregarding the fact that Taiwan is part of China and for advancing "Taiwan independence" narratives. Such actions, he said, undermine peace and stability in the strait and will ultimately "bring consequences upon themselves."

This comes as the U.S. Congress released the latest text of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes up to $1 billion in military assistance to the Taiwan region for fiscal year 2026. The bill calls for launching a joint unmanned-systems development program with the Taiwan region by March 2026 and expanding integrated training between U.S. forces and the region's coast guard.

Chen voiced strong opposition to any form of military contact between foreign countries and the Taiwan region. He said the bill violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, constitutes a serious interference in China's internal affairs and sends a dangerous signal to separatist forces advocating "Taiwan independence."

He urged the United States to honor its commitments on the Taiwan question and stop "arming Taiwan." Attempts by the DPP to "seek independence by relying on the U.S." will not bring peace or security, he warned. "They will only lead to harm now and to an inevitable dead end."