Taiwan Accuses China of Harassment After Coast Guard Standoff Near Pratas Islands
Taiwan's coast guard says a Chinese vessel entered restricted waters near the Pratas Islands, marking the 13th such intrusion this year. The two ships came within 1 nautical mile during a standoff.
Taiwan's coast guard has accused China of harassment after a Chinese coast guard vessel entered restricted waters near the Pratas Islands, a disputed coral atoll in the South China Sea administered by Taiwan. The incident occurred early on Saturday and involved a tense confrontation between the two coast guards.
According to Taiwan's coast guard, the Chinese vessel entered waters near the Pratas Islands, which lie southwest of Taiwan's main island. A Taiwanese coast guard ship immediately responded, confronting the Chinese vessel and instructing it to leave. At the peak of the standoff, the two ships came within just 1 nautical mile (1.9 kilometers) of each other.
Taiwan's coast guard condemned the incursion, calling on Beijing to "immediately cease these pointless acts of harassment." It noted that this was the 13th such intrusion near the Pratas Islands this year, involving a total of 16 vessels. The repeated incidents have raised tensions in the region.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Beijing regularly sends warships and military aircraft near Taiwan and has stepped up coast guard patrols in recent months, particularly in waters east of Taiwan, alarming Taipei.
In a separate statement on Saturday, China's coast guard announced it had dispatched a group of vessels to conduct a "routine law enforcement patrol" in waters east of Taiwan. It vowed to continue intensifying patrols in what it considers its jurisdiction, citing the need to uphold national sovereignty and maritime rights.
The incident comes amid growing international concern over Chinese activity in the region. In June, France, Germany, and Britain issued a rare joint statement expressing alarm over China's actions east of Taiwan, warning that they endanger regional stability. The latest standoff underscores the persistent friction in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters.
