Taiwan's coast guard reported that one of its vessels was locked in a two-day standoff with a Chinese coast guard ship near Pratas Island in the South China Sea, according to Agence France-Presse.

The confrontation began in restricted waters around Pratas, also known as Dongsha. Taiwan controls the island, but Beijing also claims it, along with most of the strategic waterway.

Taiwan's coast guard stated that its vessel, Taichung, attempted to expel the Chinese cutter CCG 3501, leading to a heated radio exchange over sovereignty. The Chinese side insisted it was on a routine patrol and warned Taiwan not to interfere.

The Taiwanese crew accused China of undermining peace and warned that the international community would not support Beijing's actions. Hours later, Taiwan's coast guard reported that the Chinese vessel had exited the restricted waters.

Taiwanese security officials noted that China has deployed more than 100 navy, coast guard, and other ships across regional waters, from the Yellow Sea to the Western Pacific. This buildup intensified after the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Taipei has expressed concern following US President Donald Trump's suggestion that US arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with Beijing, which claims the island as its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.