Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Taiwan Shadows Chinese Research Ship Near Penghu, Calls Provocation
Taiwan said a Chinese research ship sailed near the Penghu islands.
Taiwan considers these waters sensitive.
Its coast guard followed the ship and told it to leave.
The ship was called the Tongji.
Taiwan said the vessel was not using or pulling scientific equipment.
Officials said this was the third time the ship had been seen near Taiwan since May.
Taiwan describes repeated Chinese vessel activity as pressure and harassment.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and rejects Taiwan’s sovereignty claims.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not commented when the report was published.
Taiwan’s coast guard said it warned and shadowed the Chinese research vessel Tongji near the Penghu islands.
The vessel entered the waters late Thursday and was spotted 24.9 nautical miles northwest of Penghu.
Taiwan said the Tongji was detected near the island for the third time since May.
A Taiwanese patrol boat broadcast strong warnings and ordered the vessel to leave the area.
The Tongji later moved southeast, reaching about 28 nautical miles west-southwest of Liuqiu island.
- Who
- Taiwan’s coast guard and the Chinese research vessel Tongji were involved.
- What
- Taiwan warned and shadowed the Tongji, calling its presence a maritime provocation.
- When
- The vessel entered the waters late Thursday; Taiwan reported the incident on Friday, August 21.
- Where
- The Tongji was spotted west of Taiwan, 24.9 nautical miles northwest of the Penghu islands, and later near Liuqiu island.
- Why
- Taiwan said repeated Chinese vessel activity creates pressure and an appearance of Chinese jurisdiction; China rejects Taiwan’s sovereignty claims.
Taiwan’s Position
China’s Position
Status of the waters
Taiwan’s Position
Taiwan treats the vessel’s presence near Penghu as a maritime provocation and part of ongoing grey-zone harassment.
China’s Position
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and rejects sovereignty claims made by Taipei, including claims concerning waters around the island.
Meaning of repeated vessel activity
Taiwan’s Position
Taiwan says Chinese vessels pressure its government and create an appearance of Chinese jurisdiction.
China’s Position
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not immediately responded to a request for comment, so no specific response to this incident was reported.
- Vessel
- Tongji, a Chinese research vessel
- Initial location
- 24.9 nautical miles northwest of the Penghu islands
- Later location
- Approximately 28 nautical miles west-southwest of Taiwan’s Liuqiu island
- Reported sightings
- The third time Tongji had been detected near Taiwan since May
- Taiwan’s response
- A coast guard patrol boat sailed alongside the vessel and issued strong warnings
- Equipment activity
- Taiwanese authorities said the vessel was not deploying or towing equipment
- Vessel direction
- The Tongji was continuing southeast