TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Chinese coast guard ship entered restricted waters near Dongsha with its Automatic Identification System switched off, the Coast Guard Administration said Saturday.
Dongsha is a disputed coral island in the South China Sea administered as part of Kaohsiung City. The Chinese coast guard has repeatedly sent vessels into restricted waters near Taiwanese islands, including Dongsha and Kinmen, to pretend it holds jurisdiction over the areas.
In the latest incident, the Coast Guard Administration located the Chinese ship northwest of Dongsha early Saturday morning, per CNA. A patrol ship found the Chinese vessel entering restricted waters from the west at 4 a.m.
The Taiwanese crew used English and Mandarin to demand the ship leave the area. The Chinese coast guard responded by claiming the area belonged to China, while they were enforcing the law, CNA reported. At one time, only 1.85 kilometers separated the two ships.
Saturday’s intrusion was the 13th incident of its kind this year, involving 16 Chinese ships. The Coast Guard called on Beijing to stop its campaign of harassment, while emphasizing its determination to take the necessary measures to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty.