A Chinese coast guard vessel departed waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea following a confrontation involving coast guard units from China and Taiwan.

Taiwan’s coast guard said it detected a Chinese vessel moving toward the Pratas Islands and dispatched one of its own ships in response. During the encounter, Taiwan broadcast a warning message urging the Chinese crew not to disrupt peace, to return and to pursue democracy as the proper way to serve the country.

According to Taiwan, the Chinese vessel replied that it was carrying out a routine mission and repeated Beijing’s position regarding sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Pratas Islands. The exchange later developed into a verbal confrontation before the Chinese vessel eventually departed the area.

A Taiwan coast guard official said China’s territorial claims and the vessel’s presence near Taiwan-controlled waters were unlawful and without basis. The official also stated that this was the second incident this month involving the removal of a Chinese vessel operating in the same area.

The Pratas Islands are an atoll administered by Taiwan and designated as a national park. The area is monitored by Taiwan’s coast guard rather than military forces and is located between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, more than 400 kilometers from Taiwan.

The latest incident comes as China has increased military and naval activity around Taiwan while continuing to maintain its claim over the self-governed island.

Taipei has remained on heightened alert following reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing this month.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu also said on social media that around 100 Chinese vessels were currently operating within the first island chain, stretching from Japan through Taiwan and into the Philippines.