Taiwan¡¯s coast guard said Sunday it has deployed vessels ¡°to respond appropriately¡± to a Chinese operation in waters east of the island democracy, which it said ¡°violates international law.¡±

The move comes after Chinese state media reported Saturday that the ¡°law enforcement operation¡± was in response to talks between Japan and the Philippines to draw a boundary in the affected waters.

China, which asserts Taiwan is part of its territory, called the talks ¡°illegal¡± and has claimed exclusive control over the waters.