Taiwan Coast Guard Drives Out Chinese Vessel Xiang Yang Hong 22 From EEZ Waters After 5-Hour Standoff
Updated
Updated · 台北時報 · Jun 20
Taiwan Coast Guard Drives Out Chinese Vessel Xiang Yang Hong 22 From EEZ Waters After 5-Hour Standoff
2 articles · Updated · 台北時報 · Jun 20
Summary
11:35 p.m. Thursday, Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 22 entered restricted waters off Suao, and Taiwan’s Coast Guard sent the Lanyu patrol ship and PP-10077 to intercept and order it out.
By 4:20 a.m. Friday, the vessel had left the area after radio warnings and wave-generating flanking maneuvers disrupted its operations; it then continued north beyond Lanyu’s radar range.
41 nautical miles east of Hualien, Lanyu had first detected the ship at 8 p.m., warned it to leave Taiwan’s EEZ, and tracked it as it re-entered restricted waters after initially heading north at 15 knots.
More than a week of activity off Taiwan’s east and south coasts preceded the incident, with the ship sailing from Zhoushan, passing east of Miyako Island, then operating between Yonaguni and Taiwan’s eastern EEZ.
Taiwan’s coast guard said Beijing is using research and government vessels as a pretext for maritime harassment and “hegemonic expansion,” while continuing its broader shadowing-and-monitoring strategy.
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Pratas Islands Under Pressure: Taiwan’s Shadowing Strategy and China’s Expanding Gray-Zone Operations in 2026
Overview
In June 2026, China intensified its military and quasi-military operations in the South China Sea, focusing on asserting sovereignty claims around Taiwan. This led to frequent confrontations, especially near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, which are over 400 kilometers from Taiwan’s main island and primarily defended by Taiwan’s Coast Guard. As China increased its coast guard and navy deployments, Taiwan responded with a 'shadowing and monitoring' strategy to assert its rights and counter Beijing’s actions. The situation has escalated regional tensions, with Taiwanese officials condemning China’s behavior as highly provocative and highlighting the vulnerability of the Pratas Islands.