China announced on Saturday that it had launched a new coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, drawing a strong response from Taipei amid growing regional tensions.

China's Coast Guard said the fleet would conduct "law enforcement patrols" in what it described as China's jurisdictional waters and would strengthen future patrols to "firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".

Taiwan condemned the operation, calling it an "illegal expansion of power in violation of international law and a disruption of regional stability".

"The Chinese communists have no sovereignty or related rights in the waters east of Taiwan, have no jurisdiction over these waters, and none of its official vessels have any law-enforcement authority there," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said.

Taiwan's Coast Guard said it was tracking two Chinese vessels and had deployed two of its own ships to monitor them. Authorities said the Chinese ships were operating 54 nautical miles east of Hualien, outside restricted waters.

Taiwan added that it would "continue to employ all necessary measures to forcefully expel Chinese vessels harassing our waters, steadfastly defend national sovereignty, and ensure the security of our maritime domains".

The patrol marks the second time in about a month that China has deployed coast guard vessels off Taiwan's east coast, a move that has heightened diplomatic tensions involving the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

China said its previous operation was a response to planned maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines, which Beijing said involved waters it claims near Taiwan.

Taiwan maintains that China has no sovereignty or jurisdiction over the island or its surrounding waters, while Beijing continues to reject Taiwan's territorial claims.