Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration under the Ocean Affairs Council of the Republic of China (ROC) has stated that as Typhoon Shader moves away, the sea conditions in the waters near Kinmen have gradually stabilized today (29th). However, four Chinese coast guard ships have once again entered the restricted waters off Kinmen, and the ROC Coast Guard is closely monitoring the situation to drive all four Chinese ships away.
According to the press release issued by the Coast Guard Administration, as Typhoon Shader just passed and it is the weekend, there has been a significant increase in maritime traffic and operations. Despite this busy sea traffic, Chinese coast guard ships took the opportunity to provoke and disrupt the waters around Kinmen.
The Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Division of the Coast Guard stated that around 8 a.m. this morning, the 12th patrol zone spotted four Chinese coast guard ships, numbered “14608,” “14531,” “14604,” and “14530,” forming a fleet near the restricted waters of Kinmen. Patrol vessels were immediately dispatched to the area to respond.
The Coast Guard said that around 8:50 a.m., two Chinese coast guard ships, organized in pairs, entered the restricted waters around Kinmen from the southwest of Lieyu and the southwest of Zhaitou. The Chinese coast guard bureau simultaneously released a statement claiming routine law enforcement activities in the waters around Kinmen, which the ROC Coast Guard considers a deliberate act of psychological warfare.
The ROC Coast Guard immediately initiated direct monitoring and evidence collection, broadcasting messages in both Mandarin and English, and using other measures to assert its sovereignty and determination to safeguard maritime security. The Chinese coast guard ships finally left the restricted waters of Kinmen at 10:53 a.m.
In response to the Chinese coast guard’s announcement of routine law enforcement activities, the ROC Coast Guard strongly refuted the claims, stating that the Chinese actions were not about law enforcement but rather harassment. By falsely invoking law enforcement, they are disrupting maritime order and spreading misleading information internationally. In reality, the waters around Kinmen fall under ROC jurisdiction and are well-maintained in terms of security and operational order, with the Chinese provocations only escalating regional tensions.
The Coast Guard also emphasized that regardless of weekdays or holidays, they will maintain a high level of vigilance against the continuous provocations by the Chinese coast guard. As the first line of defense at sea, they will not tolerate any disruptions in the grey area between Taiwan and China that threaten regional peace and stability.
Faced with provocations from the Chinese side, the Coast Guard will continue to adhere to its stance of “firm enforcement without compromise,” utilizing advanced surveillance technologies to monitor maritime situations and target movements accurately, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and maritime security.