China is strengthening its presence around Taiwan, in a move that Taipei says aims to “change the status quo.”
Published on October 18, 2026
Taiwan confronted and chased away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels that it said were involved in simultaneous “maritime harassment” operations.
An “unusually large” number of Chinese ships took part in coordinated operations around the main island of Taiwan and Pratas (also known as Dongsha), a disputed island in the southwest, the Taiwan Coast Guard said in a statement on Sunday.
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The Chinese vessels included four fishing boats, which engaged in “simultaneous operations” that the coast guard described as “hybrid warfare.”
Taiwan’s coast guard said its ships took “immediately strong measures to effectively neutralize threats” and accused Beijing of “attempting to unilaterally change the status quo” in the Taiwan Strait and giving a “false impression of jurisdiction.”
Some of the vessels are believed to have entered Taiwan’s restricted waters.
Intensified maritime pressure
Beijing claims Taiwan and Pratas as part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over surrounding waters, which Taipei rejects. China has long threatened to use force to regain control of Taiwan.
In an incident on October 1, Taiwan’s coast guard fired a water cannon at a Chinese recreational fishing boat near Pratas Island, between Taiwan and mainland China, according to Beijing.
China has intensified its maritime pressure on Taiwan in recent months. Beijing deployed a record 244 coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the main island of Taiwan in July, according to official Taiwanese data, compared with just 58 in the same month last year.
During the first 21 days of August, 152 vessels were detected; most came from the Chinese coast guard, but fishing boats and research vessels were also involved.
China also deploys warships around Taiwan almost daily, but these are counted separately.
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