World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese vessels near the island
Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese vessels during coordinated operations on Sunday.
The vessels included coast guard, research and fishing boats, and four were fishing boats.
They were operating near Taiwan’s main island and Pratas, an island Taiwan controls that China also claims.
Beijing claims Taiwan and nearby waters as its territory, while Taipei rejects those claims.
Taiwan’s coast guard said some vessels entered restricted waters and described the operations as “hybrid warfare.”
Chinese maritime pressure around Taiwan has grown; Taiwanese data recorded 244 coast guard, research and other vessels around the main island in July, not including warships.
The incident followed Taiwan’s use of a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat near Pratas on October 1, and no further action was specified.
Taiwan said it drove away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels during coordinated operations on October 18.
The Taiwanese coast guard said the vessels operated at multiple locations around Taiwan’s main island and Pratas, and that some entered restricted waters.
The coast guard described the operations as “maritime harassment” and said its vessels took immediate action to neutralise the threats.
Beijing claims Taiwan and the surrounding waters, while Taipei rejects those claims.
The operation followed a Taiwan coast guard water-cannon incident involving a Chinese fishing vessel near Pratas on October 1.
- Who
- Taiwan’s coast guard and 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels.
- What
- Taiwan said it drove away the Chinese vessels during coordinated operations it described as “maritime harassment.
- When
- October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Around Taiwan’s main island and Pratas, off Taiwan’s eastern, southern and southwestern coasts.
- Why
- The Taiwanese coast guard said the vessels carried out simultaneous operations and some entered restricted waters. It described the actions as an attempt to create a false impression of jurisdiction.
Taiwan
China
Sovereignty and waters
Taiwan
Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claim that Taiwan and the surrounding waters are Chinese territory.
China
Beijing claims Taiwan is part of its territory and asserts jurisdiction over the surrounding waters.
The operations
Taiwan
Taiwan’s coast guard called the coordinated activity “maritime harassment” and said it took action to neutralise threats.
China
China’s view of the October 18 operations is not stated in the sources.
China began conducting law enforcement patrols in waters to the east of Taiwan.
Taiwanese official data showed 244 Chinese coast guard, research and other ships around Taiwan’s main island.
Taiwan’s coast guard used a water cannon against a Chinese recreational fishing vessel near Pratas, prompting an angry response from China.
Taiwan said it drove away 16 Chinese vessels involved in coordinated operations around Taiwan and Pratas.
- Chinese vessels driven away
- 16
- Fishing boats among the vessels
- 4
- Operation date
- October 18, 2026
- Operation locations
- Taiwan’s eastern, southern and southwestern coasts, and Pratas
- Chinese vessels detected around Taiwan in July
- 244
3 sources
What people are saying
China is attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and create the false impression of jurisdiction
Such actions will only lead to resentment among the people of Taiwan, and the Coast Guard Administration condemns them in the strongest terms.
forceful action immediately to effectively neutralise the threats