Where is Itu Aba Island and why is it strategic?

Itu Aba is in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea, and controls access to resources, shipping lanes, and sovereignty claims.

Who established the 'restricted waters' around Itu Aba?

Taiwan designated the area as its jurisdictional waters under domestic law, imposing navigation restrictions.

Was the Coast Guard's response appropriate?

The Coast Guard responded calmly and firmly to the dangerous maneuvers, upholding national sovereignty.

ROC Vessel Intrusion into Itu Aba's Restricted Waters Condemned by MAC

Published Jun 12, 2026 6:16 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 12:09 AM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: CNA (Central News Agency)

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan strongly condemned and protested the intrusion of a Chinese government vessel into the restricted waters around Itu Aba Island on April 11, denouncing China as a 'troublemaker' undermining Taiwan's sovereignty and regional peace through gray-zone tactics.

(Central News Agency reporter Lu Chia-jung, Taipei, April 12) In response to a Chinese government vessel's intrusion into the restricted waters around Itu Aba Island on April 11, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed a stern condemnation and protest today. The MAC stated that China, by using gray-zone tactics to provoke and undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and regional peace, has become a 'troublemaker' disrupting strategic stability in East Asia.

The MAC stated today that a Chinese government vessel intruded into the restricted waters around Itu Aba Island on the 11th and, while entering Taiwan's maritime zone, dangerously altered course disregarding maritime safety, thereby endangering the safety of Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessels and law enforcement personnel. The MAC condemned China for using gray-zone incursions to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and the status quo of regional peace, asserting that China has become a 'troublemaker' threatening strategic stability in East Asia, and expressed its firm condemnation and protest.

The MAC explained, 'Itu Aba Island is our inherent territory, and the Republic of China enjoys full sovereignty over it.' The illegal entry of a Chinese government vessel into the restricted waters around Itu Aba Island and its use of dangerous navigation to provoke CGA vessels is an attempt to create a false impression of jurisdiction over Taiwan's maritime areas. The CGA personnel have resolutely defended the nation's blue territory through firm actions, which deserves recognition and encouragement from all citizens.

The MAC emphasized that in recent years, China has frequently employed the tactic of 'fake enforcement, real provocation' to bully neighboring countries and expand its unlawful sovereignty claims, making it a 'troublemaker' undermining strategic stability in East Asia. The government will continue to seek international cooperation and dialogue, unite with allied nations to counter China's expansionist ambitions, and safeguard the maritime rights of all countries and the current state of regional peace and stability. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150612

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Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
Category: Taiwan

ROC Vessel Intrusion into Itu Aba's Restricted Waters Condemned by MAC

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