Chinese Ship Leaves After Tense Standoff Near Taiwan-Controlled Islands

By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI, May 24 (Reuters) – A Chinese coast guard ship left waters near Taiwan’s strategically located Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea on Sunday following a tense standoff and verbal sparring between the coast guards, Taiwan’s Coast Guard said. 

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei rejects.

China has pressured Taiwan by increasing its military presence around the island, and Taipei is on high alert for further Chinese actions after President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing this month. 

Lying roughly between southern