Taiwan, China coast guards in standoff in north South China Sea

China's wording on having jurisdiction and sovereignty was unusual as was the length of its stay in the waters so close to the Pratas, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

The Pratas, an atoll which is also a Taiwanese national park, is only lightly defended by Taiwan, and its coast guard has that responsibility rather ⁠than the military.

In January, Taiwan said a Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly flew over the Pratas, in what Taiwan's defence ministry called a "provocative and irresponsible" move.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)