A Chinese coast guard vessel left the waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands on Sunday after a tense confrontation with the Taiwanese coast guard, Taipei authorities announced.
The incident took place around the Pratas Islands, a strategic territory located in the northern South China Sea, between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong. Beijing claims these islands as part of its territory, a position rejected by the Taiwanese government.
According to the Taiwanese coast guard, a Chinese vessel was spotted on Saturday en route to the Pratas Islands. Taipei immediately dispatched a ship to intercept it and broadcast radio warnings. The two sides then engaged in heated verbal exchanges regarding maritime sovereignty.
Taiwanese authorities indicated that the Chinese vessel finally left the area on Sunday after several hours of tension. No physical confrontation was reported, but this episode illustrates a further escalation of tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
China continues to intensify its military and maritime pressure around Taiwan, increasing its air and naval incursions. Taipei is currently on high alert in the face of the possibility of further Chinese actions in the region.
The Pratas Islands are considered particularly vulnerable due to their geographical isolation. Located more than 400 kilometers from Taiwan's main island, they have limited defenses, making them a sensitive point in the strategic standoff between the two powers.
Tensions have escalated further following a recent discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the US President Donald Trump focusing in particular on the Taiwan issue, a subject considered highly sensitive by Beijing.
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