Overview
- Taiwan tracked a Chinese reconnaissance drone over the Taiwan-administered Pratas atoll around dawn for eight minutes.
- The aircraft left the area at 05:48 after Taiwan issued warnings on international channels, the defence ministry said.
- Taipei called the flight “highly provocative and irresponsible” and said it violated international legal norms.
- The drone flew at an altitude beyond the range of local anti-aircraft weapons, so no intercept was attempted.
- China had not issued a public response at the time of reporting, as the episode drew attention to frequent PLA activity near Taiwanese-held areas and tensions tied to a new Taiwan–US trade agreement criticized by Beijing.