TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Coast Guard Administration chased four Chinese coast guard ships away after they approached a restricted area near Kinmen on Tuesday.

The vessels were spotted south of the island around 7 a.m. before splitting up into two groups of two ships each, per CNA. The Coast Guard’s local division immediately dispatched four patrol boats to collect evidence and stop their progress into restricted waters.

The Taiwanese crews broadcast warnings in Mandarin and English while trying to drive the Chinese ships off twice. The four Chinese ships left the restricted waters at noon.

Tuesday’s incident was the 56th recorded since the beginning of last year. The Coast Guard Administration said it would not let down its guard during the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays and continue to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty.