China says it is 'safeguarding order' around Taiwan-controlled South China Sea atoll

BEIJING — China's government announced on Wednesday that its coast guard is maintaining order around a small, strategically situated Taiwan-administered atoll in the northern reaches of the South China Sea, where Taipei is concerned Beijing is attempting to assert jurisdiction. China, which considers democratically governed Taiwan to be its own territory, stated last week that Taiwan must "face the repercussions" of its coast guard deploying a water cannon against a Chinese fishing vessel near the Pratas Islands.

Taiwan has reported two incidents since Sunday involving Chinese coast guard vessels approaching the Pratas, alleging provocative actions from Beijing. At a regular press briefing, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office asserted that Beijing holds "unassailable sovereignty" over the South China Sea islands, including the Pratas and the surrounding waters.

The mainland coast guard's vessels carrying out law enforcement patrols in the designated waters are carrying out their duties in compliance with the law, ensuring normal navigation and order, according to spokesperson Zhang Han. Chinese ships are "