Taiwan Coast Guard Accuses China of Harassment Near Disputed Island

Taiwan’s coast guard has accused China of harassment after a Chinese vessel entered restricted waters near a disputed coral island administered by Taiwan in the South China Sea. The incident occurred early Saturday, according to Taiwan’s coast guard, which stated that one of its vessels confronted the Chinese ship and requested it to leave.

During the standoff, the two ships came within 1 nautical mile (1.9 kilometers) of each other. Taiwan’s coast guard called on Beijing to "immediately cease these pointless acts of harassment," noting it was the 13th such intrusion near the Pratas Islands this year, involving 16 vessels.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to annex it. Beijing regularly sends warships and military jets near the island and has increased coast guard patrols in recent months, particularly in waters east of Taiwan, raising concerns in Taipei.

Also 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. The statement from China’s coast guard asserted that it would continue to intensify patrols in waters under its jurisdiction to "firmly uphold the nation’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

In June, France, Germany, and Britain issued a joint statement expressing alarm over Chinese activities east of Taiwan, citing threats to regional stability.