India, Nov. 1 -- Taiwan's coast guard accused China of harassment after a Chinese vessel entered restricted waters near a disputed coral island administered by Taiwan in the South China Sea.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to annex it. Beijing sends warships and military jets near the island almost daily, and in recent months has stepped up coast guard patrols, especially in waters east of Taiwan, raising alarm in Taipei.

The Chinese coast guard vessel entered waters near the Pratas Islands, southwest of Taiwan's main island, early on Saturday, Taiwan's coast guard said. It added that a Taiwanese coast guard vessel confronted the Chinese ship and asked it to l...