Taiwan Coast Guard in Standoff Near Pratas as US Panel Chair Criticizes Patrols
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said a China Coast Guard ship sailed into restricted waters northeast of the Pratas Islands early Tuesday and was still in a standoff with the cutter Taichung, according to the Taipei Times. Reuters reported the same standoff.
The agency said the Chinese vessel switched off its automatic identification system and broadcast that “the so-called Republic of China does not exist”; the Taichung replied that “the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent country.” The CGA counted 15 expulsions of Chinese vessels near Pratas this year.
Separately, Randall Schriver, chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, told a Taipei forum that persistent China Coast Guard patrols east of Taiwan are “highly destabilizing” if they continue, the Taipei Times and ANI reported. He said a pending US$14 billion arms package may not advance until next year. Beijing had not responded to requests for comment.
The standoff was reported as continuing; its resolution was not yet known.