Taiwan upgrades maritime patrol capacity for vulnerable South China Sea outpost

Taiwan has bolstered its maritime patrol ability around the contested Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, the government announced. This comes amid heightened Chinese military activity in the region. China asserts that Taiwan is part of its territory, a claim Taiwan rejects. The Pratas Islands, located between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, have been deemed particularly vulnerable to a potential Chinese attack due to their distance from Taiwan, more than 400 kilometers away.

On Wednesday, Taiwan's coast guard declared that its overall patrol and enforcement capacity in Pratas waters had been "comprehensively upgraded." As part of this upgrade, a newly-built 100-ton-class patrol boat has been stationed at Pratas since July, significantly enhancing nearshore patrol capabilities and mobile response. The coast guard also explained that larger patrol vessels are being regularly deployed to patrol around Pratas, illustrating "strong multi-layered deterrence and mobile enforcement capabilities."

China, which does not recognize Taiwan's sovereignty claims, including over the Pratas Islands, has been increasing its patrols in the area, most recently earlier this month. The Pratas Islands, a national park with largely untouched reefs, have a Taiwanese coast guard presence but no permanent civilian population. Taiwan has also confiscated nine Chinese fishing boats around Pratas since the beginning of the year and repurposed them for reef patrol and marine conservation work. Taiwan also claims control over the uninhabited Zhongzhou Reef near Pratas.