Taipei: Taiwan’s Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said Wednesday that Beijing should halt its illegal marine drilling operations in waters around Taiwan, after it was reported that Chinese oil rigs and ships had been spotted near Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island.

According to Focus Taiwan, published Tuesday by the think tank Jamestown Foundation, said the Chinese installations – seven rig structures, three floating production storage and offloading vessels, and two semi-submersible oil platforms – were seen within Taiwan’s claimed exclusive economic zone near Pratas Island.

The Jamestown Foundation report examined China’s use of drilling platforms near Pratas Island to assert territorial claims, carry out gray zone operations, and pressure Taiwan without engaging in direct military conflict.

Pratas Island, also known as Dongsha Island, is an atoll in the South China Sea that is administered by Taiwan, although China claims it as part of its South China Sea territory under the Nine-dash line.

Kuo said Taiwan’s defense and security agencies are closely monitoring the situation and assessing China’s activities and the associated risks to determine what measures should be taken.

Kuo said China’s installation of drilling platforms and other facilities in the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of countries including South Korea, Japan and Taiwan is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international norms.

Kuo said such activities undermine international order and pose risks to regional stability and that China should clearly explain its actions and immediately halt its illegal operations.

Kuo said Taiwan will cooperate with relevant countries in the region to devise a joint response to these issues in order to ensure regional security and stability.