Chinese Forces Confront US and Taiwanese Vessels in South China Sea
The Chinese military and coast guard engaged in separate maritime confrontations with the United States and Taiwan near the Spratly and Pratas Islands.
The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army deployed naval forces on October 20, 2026, to monitor the USS Charleston, a U.S. littoral combat ship. Beijing claimed the vessel illegally entered waters near Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, asserting the move violated sovereign rights and threatened regional stability. The Philippine military contested this claim, stating the American ship remained in international waters.
In a separate incident near the Pratas Islands, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel entered a restricted area controlled by Taiwan. The Taiwanese vessel Taichung issued warnings for the ship to depart, sparking a radio exchange over sovereignty. During the confrontation, the Chinese vessel denied the existence of the Republic of China, while Taiwan asserted its status as an independent country.
Joseph Wu Jaushieh, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, responded to the incursions by arguing that China possesses no legitimate claim over the waters east of Taiwan.
