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A Chinese reconnaissance drone concisely flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands astatine the apical extremity of the South China Sea connected Saturday (January 17, 2026), successful what Taiwan’s defence ministry called a “provocative and irresponsible” move.
Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims arsenic its ain territory, reports Chinese subject enactment astir it connected an astir regular basis, including drones though they precise seldom participate Taiwanese airspace.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said the Chinese reconnaissance drone was detected astir dawn connected Saturday (January 17, 2026) approaching the Pratas Islands and flew successful its airspace for eight minutes astatine an altitude extracurricular the scope of anti-aircraft weapons.
“After our broadside broadcast warnings connected planetary channels, it departed astatine 0548,” it said successful a statement.
“Such highly provocative and irresponsible actions by the People’s Liberation Army earnestly undermine determination bid and stability, violated planetary ineligible norms, and volition inevitably beryllium condemned,” it added.
Taiwan’s equipped forces volition proceed to support strict vigilance and monitoring, and volition respond successful accordance with the regular combat readiness rules, the ministry said. A spokesperson for China’s Southern Theatre Command said that drones had conducted “normal formation training” successful the airspace, successful a connection connected its authoritative WeChat account.
China besides views the Pratas arsenic its ain territory.
In 2022, Taiwan’s subject for the archetypal clip changeable down an unidentified civilian drone that entered its airspace adjacent an islet disconnected the Chinese seashore controlled by Taiwan.
Lying astir betwixt confederate Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Pratas are seen by immoderate information experts arsenic susceptible to Chinese onslaught owed to their region - much than 400 km (250 miles) - from mainland Taiwan.
The Pratas, an atoll which is besides a Taiwanese nationalist park, are lone lightly defended by Taiwan’s military, but prevarication astatine a highly strategical determination astatine the apical extremity of the disputed South China Sea.
