Washington/Taipei, July 28 (CNA) A social media post by the de facto United States embassy in Taiwan showing U.S. and Taiwanese coast guard vessels sailing in formation indicates that Washington views Taipei as an important partner, several scholars told CNA on Tuesday. "As typhoon season is upon us, the United States Coast Guard and the Taiwan Coast Guard are busy coordinating on shared maritime objectives," such as preserving maritime resources, countering illegal fishing, and interdicting illegal drug shipments, the post said. And to other regional countries, the U.S. is signaling that they could also benefit from working more closely with Taiwan's Coast Guard." "It also shows that the U.S. fully recognizes the Taiwan Coast Guard as the sole law enforcement agency in Taiwan's waters," she said in the post. According to the CGA, Chinese coast guard and other official vessels have operated in waters east of Taiwan and around Taiwan-controlled islands in the South China Sea in recent weeks.