Chinese coast guard vessel 3501 entered restricted waters around Pratas on May 23, 2026, prompting Taiwan to dispatch its Taichung patrol ship for a close-range response and radio exchange over sovereignty. Taiwan’s Coast Guard AdministrationA conflict between Taiwan and China over a strategically located atoll at the top of the South China Sea risks escalating into a fatal confrontation and delivering a devastating blow to the first island chain, an expert warns.A Chinese coast guard vessel entered waters near the Pratas Islands on May 23, triggering a standoff and an exchange of radio warnings with a Taiwanese patrol ship, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on May 24.
Chinas Provocations in Taiwans Outer Islands Threaten First Island Chain, Expert Warns
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