Two Chinese official vessels briefly entered restricted waters near Taiping
Island in the South China Sea... triggering action by the Coast Guard
Administration.

It was the first time the Chinese vessels have been reported in the area.

The Coast Guard said it issued its "strongest condemnation" of China after a
patrol vessel and a supply ship were detected entering restricted waters
around Taiping Island twice on Thursday morning.

The administration says both vessels made two abrupt, sharp turns that could
have jeopardized the safety of its patrol boats, which tracked and monitored
the Chinese vessels while ordering them to leave the area.

The two Chinese vessels were later forced out of the area, which extends
4,000 to 6,000 meters from the coast.

The latest incident follows a series of similar incursions by Chinese coast
guard vessels into waters east of Taiwan and around Dongsha Island in recent
weeks.