Chinese Vessels Enter Waters Around Disputed Taiping Island Controlled by Taiwan, Expelled After 15 Minutes
Two Chinese vessels entered the four-kilometre prohibited zone around Taiping Island on June 11, 2026, and remained for 15 minutes before Taiwan's coast guard expelled them. Taiwan called the entry the first such intrusion and condemned it as grey-zone harassment.
France 24Two Chinese vessels entered the four-kilometre prohibited waters around Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island on Thursday and remained for 15 minutes before the Taiwanese coast guard ordered them out. The Taiwan coast guard said the two ships “openly intruded” into the zone around the island, also known as Itu Aba, marking the first time Chinese vessels had entered those waters.
” Taiping Island is the largest feature in the Spratly archipelago and is also claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Taiwan’s coast guard said the prohibited waters extend four kilometres from shore. ” The council added that the incident showed Beijing’s actions should be treated as a challenge to international order rather than a response to other regional talks.
The same day, Taiwan’s coast guard reported a separate coordinated patrol near Pratas Island on Saturday in which a Chinese survey vessel accompanied a coast guard ship.
Officials described it as the first observed instance of Chinese coast guard and survey vessels acting together to provoke Taiwan. A file photo of Taiping Island released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense shows an aerial view taken on March 23, 2016.
