Taiwan accuses China of harassment after ships nearly collide near Pratas Islands

The Taiwan Coast Guard accused China of harassment on Saturday after a Chinese vessel entered restricted waters near the Pratas Islands. The islands are a disputed coral atoll administered by Taiwan in the South China Sea.

Taiwanese officials said the incident began in the early hours of the day. A Chinese coast guard ship entered the area, and a Taiwanese vessel confronted it. The two ships eventually stopped just 1.9 kilometers apart, a distance of one nautical mile.

The Taiwan Coast Guard stated that this was the 13th incursion of this type near the Pratas Islands this year. In total, 16 vessels participated in these incidents. The guard called on Beijing to stop what it described as useless acts of harassment.

Beijing maintains that the waters it patrols are under its jurisdiction. On the same day, China announced that its coast guard had sent a group of ships to conduct a routine law enforcement patrol in waters east of Taiwan. A statement from the Chinese Coast Guard said it would continue to strengthen patrols to firmly safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to annex it. Beijing regularly sends warships and military aircraft near the island. In recent months, it has intensified coast guard patrols, particularly in the waters east of Taiwan.

These moves have raised alarms in Taipei. In June, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing concern over Chinese activities in the region. The three countries said the activities threatened regional stability.

The Taiwan Coast Guard noted that the Chinese vessel was asked to withdraw during the confrontation. The two ships remained in close proximity until the standoff ended. The incident adds to the series of encounters that have defined maritime relations in the area this year.