Beijing: China has defended its coast guard patrols near the Taiwan administered Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, saying the operations are intended to safeguard maritime order and navigation. The statement comes amid rising tensions after Taiwan reported another encounter with a Chinese coast guard vessel near the islands on Wednesday.
Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on October 21 that the coast guard was conducting lawful patrols. Beijing claims sovereignty over the Pratas Islands and the surrounding waters, while Taiwan rejects China's claim and continues to administer the territory.
Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration reported that a Chinese coast guard vessel entered restricted waters northeast of Pratas on Wednesday. Taiwan said its coast guard vessel, the Taichung, monitored the Chinese ship and issued radio warnings. The reported encounter added to a series of maritime incidents between the two sides in recent weeks.
The Pratas Islands, also known as Dongsha, lie in the northern South China Sea between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong. The islands are administered by Taiwan and include an airstrip. Their location makes them strategically important as China continues to challenge Taiwan's authority and assert its territorial claims in the region.
The latest encounter followed a series of incidents reported by Taiwanese authorities earlier this month.
On October 1, Taiwan's Coast Guard said it used a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat after the vessel failed to heed warnings to leave restricted waters near Pratas. According to Taiwan's account, the boat later experienced engine trouble and was towed away by another Chinese vessel.
China responded on October 14 by warning that Taiwan would have to bear the consequences of the incident. Beijing did not specify what action it might take.
On October 16, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration reported that two Chinese coast guard vessels, numbered 3301 and 3303, had entered restricted waters around Pratas. Taiwan said it sent patrol vessels to the area, issued warnings and ordered the Chinese ships to leave.
Taiwan also reported wider maritime activity on October 18, involving 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels operating around Taiwan and the Pratas Islands. Taiwanese authorities described the activity as coordinated pressure. The reported figure covered multiple locations and did not mean that all 16 vessels entered restricted waters around Pratas.
The repeated encounters have raised concerns in Taiwan that China is seeking to increase its presence around territory administered by Taipei. Taiwanese officials have warned that frequent patrols could challenge their ability to enforce maritime rules and gradually strengthen Beijing's claims.
Chiu Chui-cheng, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, warned on October 20 that Beijing could increasingly seek to exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan and surrounding areas before achieving political unification. His remarks reflected Taiwan's assessment of China's broader strategy rather than confirmation that Beijing had taken control of any territory.
China's use of coast guard vessels and other official ships has become an important part of its maritime disputes in the region. Such operations can allow a government to demonstrate its presence and challenge another side's authority without immediately resorting to direct military confrontation.
This approach is often described as grey zone activity. The term refers to actions intended to exert pressure or gradually change conditions without crossing the threshold of open armed conflict. However, the available information does not establish that China has decided to seize the Pratas Islands or that the reported patrols are preparations for an imminent military operation.
The latest developments come amid wider Chinese military activity around Taiwan. In its October 21 update, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported 29 Chinese military aircraft sorties, six Chinese naval ships and nine official vessels around Taiwan during the 24 hours ending at 6 am local time. These figures relate to activity around Taiwan more broadly and are separate from the reported coast guard encounters near Pratas.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that unification is a national objective. Taiwan, which has its own government and administers its territory independently, rejects Beijing's claim to rule the island.
The South China Sea is also the subject of overlapping territorial and maritime claims involving China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The waters are important for international shipping, fishing and regional security, making disputes over access and control a concern for countries beyond the immediate parties.
The latest encounter does not establish a change in control of the Pratas Islands. Instead, it highlights the continuing disagreement over who has the authority to operate and enforce maritime rules in the surrounding waters.
Further developments will depend on whether Chinese coast guard vessels continue to approach the islands and how Taiwan responds. Any additional encounters could increase tensions between Beijing and Taipei, particularly if either side takes measures that raise the risk of a direct confrontation.