Chinese and Taiwanese coast guard vessels have engaged in another close-quarters standoff after Chinese ships entered waters effectively controlled by Taiwan.
This marks the fifth such incursion this year, further escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) under the Ocean Affairs Council reported that a Chinese coast guard vessel entered the restricted waters of the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, coming within 700 meters of a Taiwanese patrol ship.
The Chinese coast guard ship 3101 entered the restricted zone at approximately 9:03 a.m. on June 27, about 25.5 nautical miles northwest of the Pratas Islands. When the Taiwanese coast guard deployed a vessel to intercept, the two ships came as close as 740 meters to each other, according to the report.
The Taiwanese coast guard stated that the Chinese vessel 3101 broadcasted a message claiming, "The Republic of China does not exist, and this is Chinese territorial water."
In response, the Taiwanese coast guard retorted in both Chinese and English, stating, "The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent sovereign state, and the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China are not subordinate to each other." The Ocean Affairs Council reported that they also warned the Chinese vessel to change its course immediately and leave Taiwanese waters.
Chinese authorities have not released an official statement regarding this incident.
The Taiwanese coast guard noted that this is the fifth time this year that Chinese coast guard vessels have entered the restricted waters of the Pratas Islands. They added that the same vessel, the 3101, also entered the restricted zone about 24 nautical miles northwest of the Pratas Islands on June 19, leading to a similar standoff with a Taiwanese patrol ship.
The Pratas Islands, located in the northern part of the South China Sea, are currently under the effective control of Taiwan, though China also claims sovereignty over the region, just as it does with Taiwan itself.
Recently, China has been intensifying its so-called gray zone strategy, utilizing coast guard ships and various official vessels in the waters around Taiwan and the South China Sea.
This strategy is seen as an effort to increase pressure on Taiwan while remaining below the threshold of an outright military conflict.
Reported by Kwon Ae-ri | Video by Na Hong-hee | Design by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
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