Chinese Coast Guard Enters Restricted Waters Around Taiwan-Controlled Pratas Islands in Second Confrontation in Two Weeks

Analysis
The ship's continued presence inside restricted waters, rather than withdrawing as in the prior incident, shifts the pattern from episodic pressure to deliberate legal-record construction. China's CCG will likely conduct at least one additional Pratas incursion before July 5. High confidence rests on two incidents within a fortnight, accelerating tempo with no reversal signal, and explicit jurisdictional assertions documented across both standoffs. Coverage draws entirely from Taiwan's CGA statements with no Chinese-side sourcing, limiting confidence in characterizations of Chinese intent. Autonomous CCG command initiative rather than central policy direction remains a competing explanation for the tempo increase. Each unchallenged entry compounds Beijing's cumulative sovereignty argument, forcing Taipei toward an escalating choice between committing military assets to Pratas defense and accepting normalized CCG access before the latter becomes structurally difficult to contest.