The Coast Guard’s Southern Coastal Patrol Office says it has expelled five fishing boats from the waters surrounding the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea.
The islands are administered by Taiwan and the area, including the surrounding waters, and forms Taiwan’s Dongsha Atoll National Marine Park. Unlike the other South China Sea islands, which are the subject of active international disputes, the Pratas Islands are only claimed by Taiwan and China.
The Southern Coastal Patrol Office reported Wednesday that it has expelled the fishing boats as part of its latest initiative to protect the Pratas Islands’ ecology and natural resources. The initiative includes the 1000-ton coast guard cutter Taoyuan and six other smaller vessels. The patrol office said four of the fishing boats removed from the area are registered in Hong Kong or Macau and the fifth fishing boat is registered in Vietnam.