Fifteen minutes that raised tensions: Taiwan says Chinese ships entered restricted zone

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Thursday that two Chinese government vessels entered the "prohibited" waters surrounding Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba, in the disputed South China Sea.

According to Taiwanese authorities, the vessels "openly intruded" into the restricted area and remained there for approximately 15 minutes before being ordered to leave by Taiwan's coast guard.

The coast guard said the vessels were successfully expelled from the area and condemned the incident.

The agency expressed its "strongest condemnation of this incident", describing it as a challenge to Taiwan's maritime jurisdiction around the island.

Why Taiping Island matters

Taiping Island, known internationally as Itu Aba, is the largest natural island in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

The island is controlled by Taiwan but is also claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam as part of overlapping territorial claims in one of the world's most strategically important maritime regions.

Taiwan's coast guard said the island's prohibited waters extend four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the shoreline, making the Chinese vessels' entry a direct violation of the restricted zone.

Taiwan rejects Chinese jurisdiction claims

The incident comes amid increasing tensions between Taipei and Beijing over maritime operations around Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Taiwan's coast guard reiterated that the island's maritime sovereignty could not be undermined by Chinese activities. Authorities rejected Chinese assertions of jurisdiction and vowed to continue removing vessels that attempt to enter waters under Taiwan's control.

Taiwanese officials said they would not tolerate actions designed to create what they described as a false impression of Chinese authority in areas administered by Taiwan.

Maritime tensions rise after Chinese patrols

The latest confrontation follows a recent Chinese maritime operation in waters east of Taiwan, which drew criticism from Taipei.

Chinese state media reportedly described the operation as a patrol and inspection mission. However, Taiwan rejected Beijing's characterisation and accused China of attempting to expand its maritime presence around the self-governed island.

The dispute also comes shortly after maritime boundary discussions involving Japan and the Philippines, developments that Beijing has closely monitored.

Broader tensions between Taiwan and China

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased military and maritime activities around the island in recent years. Taiwan, which operates as a self-governing democracy, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and insists that only its people can determine the island's future.

Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels regularly operate near Taiwan, prompting repeated warnings from Taipei and concern among regional governments.

While Taiwan continues to call for peaceful dialogue, tensions remain high as both sides seek to assert their positions in disputed waters and strategic maritime zones.

The South China Sea is one of the world's most contested waterways, with overlapping claims involving China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Spratly Islands, where Taiping Island is located, sit near vital international shipping routes and are believed to contain significant fisheries and potential energy resources.

Competing sovereignty claims have led to repeated diplomatic disputes, coast guard confrontations and military deployments over the years, making the region a persistent geopolitical flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific.