In a statement on Sunday, the Taiwanese coastguard said an "unusually large" number of Chinese coastguard, research and fishing vessels took part in simultaneous operations around Taiwan's main island and Pratas, a disputed island to the southwest that both Beijing and Taipei claim.
Four of the Chinese vessels were fishing boats. The coastguard said its vessels took "forceful action immediately to effectively neutralise the threats" and accused Beijing of "attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo" in the Taiwan Strait and give a "false impression of jurisdiction". Some of the Chinese vessels reportedly entered Taiwan's restricted waters.
China has long claimed Taiwan and Pratas as part of its territory and asserts jurisdiction over surrounding waters, which Taiwan rejects. Beijing has threatened force to bring Taiwan under its control and has steadily increased maritime pressure in recent months.
On October 1, Taiwan's coastguard fired water cannon at a Chinese recreational fishing vessel near Pratas. Taiwanese official data showed China deployed a record 244 coastguard, scientific research and other ships around Taiwan's main island in July, up from 58 in the same month last year. In the first 21 days of August, 152 vessels were detected, mostly from the Chinese coastguard but also including fishing boats and research ships. Chinese warships also operate near Taiwan on a near-daily basis but are counted separately.