Analysis by Brad Lendon and Steve George, CNN

Updated 0843 GMT (1643 HKT) September 3, 2021A Chinese Coast Guard taskforce advances at full speed in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in China on August 13.

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Hong Kong (CNN)Beijing wants foreign vessels to give notice before entering “Chinese territorial waters,” providing maritime authorities with detailed information — including the ship’s name, call sign, current position, next port of call and estimated time of arrival.It may sound like a reasonable enough request, especially if the ship is carrying hazardous goods, that is until you consider what constitutes “Chinese territorial waters.”Beijing asserts sovereignty over vast swathes of the South China Sea, under its widely contested and far-reaching nine-dash line, as well as disputed islands in the East China Sea.