The Coast Guard Administration says it has been involved in a standoff since
early Saturday with a Chinese coast guard vessel found entering waters near
the Dongsha Island in the South China Sea.

The 5,500-ton Chinese patrol vessel was spotted operating outside restricted
waters near Dongsha Island early Saturday morning as it headed toward the
island.

The administration's Dongsha-Nansha Branch dispatched the 1,000-ton patrol
vessel "Taichung" to monitor the Chinese ship.

The "Taichung" approached the Chinese vessel after it entered Dongsha's
restricted waters and the two vessels exchanged radio warnings in both
Chinese and English, each ordering the other to leave the area.

The Chinese vessel claimed jurisdiction over the island, while the Taiwan
side rejected the claim.

The Chinese coast guard ship left the area Sunday.

The Coast Guard Administration says latest incident marks the sixth time a
Chinese coast guard vessel has entered waters near Dongsha Island.

Dongsha Island is located some 450-kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung and is
currently staffed by around 300 Coast Guard personnel.