A structure, which the Philippine Coast Guard said was likely deployed by Chinese research vessels, floats at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released on June 10, 2026. PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD / VIA REUTERS
Taiwan said Chinese ships entered the "prohibited" waters off a disputed island in the South China Sea for the first time on Thursday, June 11, condemning escalating "harassment" by Beijing. The two Chinese vessels "openly intruded" into the waters around the Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island and stayed for 15 minutes before the Taiwanese coast guard expelled them, the force said in a statement.
The island, also known as Itu Aba, is the largest in the Spratly archipelago claimed by Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Taiwanese coast guard expressed its "strongest condemnation of this incident," saying it "once again maliciously escalates grey-zone harassment in an attempt to create a false impression of jurisdiction."
China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and in recent years has ramped up military pressure on the island democracy. Beijing also claims most of the South China Sea. Taiping's "prohibited" waters extend four kilometers (2.5 miles) from shore, Taiwan's coast guard said. "China is systematically harassing Taiwan," the Ocean Affairs Council, which is responsible for the coast guard, said on X.
