Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and the U.S. Coast Guard held their first joint maritime law enforcement training exercise in the waters off Taiwan's northeastern coast on March 13, 2025, as both sides deepen cooperation to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region. The two-day drill focused on search-and-rescue operations, vessel interdiction techniques, and coordinated patrols. It involved Taiwan's 100-ton patrol boat CG-601 and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903), which was on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. "This training enhances our interoperability and shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," said CGA Deputy Commander-in-Chief Tseng Ho-chia. The exercise comes amid heightened Chinese Coast Guard incursions near Taiwan's outlying islands and increased gray-zone activities, such as fishing fleet harassment in the South China Sea. Both coast guards emphasized non-military approaches to maritime security, including fisheries enforcement and humanitarian response, which allow responses to provocations without escalation. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command noted the training aligns with the broader U.S. strategy to support Taiwan's self-defense capabilities under the Taiwan Relations Act. CGA officials highlighted plans for annual joint drills and intelligence-sharing on illegal fishing and smuggling routes. This partnership builds on previous U.S. Coast Guard visits to Kaohsiung Port and technical exchanges on cutter design and radar systems.