Tensions flare in South China Sea: Taiwan accuses China of harassing coast guard

Taiwan's coast guard has accused China of harassing its vessels and attempting to assert "fictional jurisdiction" in the South China Sea and waters east of the island, as tensions between the two sides continue to escalate.The latest confrontation came early on Saturday when a Chinese coast guard vessel entered restricted waters near the Pratas Islands, a Taiwan-administered coral island strategically located in the northern part of the South China Sea. Taiwan's coast guard said one of its vessels confronted the Chinese ship and ordered it to leave. At the height of the standoff, the two vessels came within one nautical mile (1.9 kilometres) of each other.Taiwan's coast guard said the incident marked the 13th Chinese intrusion near the Pratas Islands this year, involving 16 vessels. It urged Beijing "to immediately cease these pointless acts of harassment".Separately, China announced that it had deployed a group of coast guard vessels for a "routine law enforcement patrol" in waters east of Taiwan. Two Chinese ships were involved in the operation, prompting Taipei to send its own vessels to monitor their movements.Taiwan accused China of using radio communications to harass ships and expand its presence in the region. It said Beijing's actions violated international law and undermined regional peace and stability, adding that China had no jurisdiction over Taiwan's waters. Beijing, however, maintains that the waters it patrols fall under its jurisdiction.Taipei has grown increasingly concerned about China's regular coast guard patrols along its eastern coast, which have intensified since June. Taiwanese officials believe the operations could be part of preparations for a potential maritime blockade, using a combination of military, paramilitary and civilian vessels to restrict access to the island. The eastern coastline is particularly important to Taiwan as a potential route for supplies from allies during a conflict.The developments come amid wider concerns over Beijing's growing military and maritime activity around Taiwan. In June, France, Germany and Britain issued a rare joint statement expressing alarm over Chinese operations east of the island, warning that they threatened regional stability.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.