Taiwan has accused China of violating international law by conducting oil and gas drilling within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The statement from President Lai Ching-te’s office followed reports revealing several Chinese oil rigs and support vessels operating near the Pratas Islands, also called Dongsha, a disputed area under Taiwanese control.
The Guardian, which first reported the news, verified the presence of the rigs using maritime tracking data.
According to a report by the U.S.-based Jamestown Foundation, Chinese state-owned oil rigs have been operating inside Taiwan’s EEZ near the Pratas Islands for years.
The report identified 12 China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) installations inside Taiwan’s claimed zone, including seven rigs, three floating storage vessels, and two semi-submersible platforms. Some have been in place for up to five years.
The Jamestown report said the rigs’ deployment aligns with China’s grey zone tactics or actions that expand control without triggering open conflict.
It warned that ignoring the installations could normalize Chinese encroachment. “Failure to protest today risks normalizing sovereignty shaving and encourages further encroachment,” the report stated.
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson, Karen Kuo, urged China to “clearly explain” its actions and to “immediately cease illegal deployment and exploitation activities in the economic waters of countries in the region, including Taiwan.”
“This not only violates international legal norms such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but also seriously undermines the international order and poses uncertain risks to regional stability,” Kuo added.
Kuo said Taiwan would “cooperate with relevant countries in the region” to seek joint responses.
“If Taiwan can make a strong connection between these Chinese grey zone activities, it could encourage other countries with more diplomatic leverage and resources to incorporate the challenges that Taiwan is facing into their potential collective regional responses,” Yang said.
Last month, Japan protested similar activity by Chinese oil rigs inside its EEZ. Vietnam and South Korea have raised similar complaints in the past.
