On the eve of the first anniversary of President Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration in the Republic of China (Taiwan), a TikTok user known as “Shandong Kai Ge” uploaded a video claiming that he had piloted a rubber dinghy to sneak into a beach in Taiwan, planted a Chinese flag there, and then returned to China. Experts have raised doubts about the authenticity of “Shandong Kai Ge’s” journey to Taiwan, suggesting it might have been orchestrated by pro-Communist forces to wage a psychological warfare against Taiwan.
“Shandong Kai Ge,” a self-proclaimed TikTok influencer, posted a video on the platform on the 18th, saying he dreamt of a “divine decree” from the sea goddess Mazu. He claimed to have driven a rubber dinghy from the sea off the coast of Changle, Fuzhou, Fujian Province in China, with four barrels of fuel on board, and arrived at Guanyin Beach in Taoyuan City, Taiwan at 2:53 pm on the 15th, where he planted the Chinese Communist Party’s flag. After completing his “mission,” he then piloted the rubber dinghy back to China.
Peng Jieshen, a former Marine Corps instructor and consultant at Thor’s Hammer Consulting Company, expressed skepticism to the Epoch Times, stating that “Shandong Kai Ge” appeared to be sitting on a rubber dinghy as he journeyed across the sea. Peng noted that the individual in the video seemed spirited and had a military-like appearance with short hair, suggesting he could be a member of the People’s Liberation Army or a collaborator with the Chinese Communist Party. Peng questioned the authenticity of “Shandong Kai Ge” planting the Chinese flag on Guanyin Beach in Taiwan and deemed it a clear indication of China’s psychological campaign against Taiwan.
Peng pointed out the challenges of a mainland Chinese individual attempting to smuggle themselves to Taiwan on a rubber dinghy, considering the distance between the Fuzhou waters and the Taiwan Strait, as well as the navigation difficulties at sea. Without precise navigation tools like the Beidou satellite system, Peng highlighted the risks involved in such a journey across the strait, which could potentially lead to the smuggler’s demise amidst the fierce waves of the Taiwan Strait.
Moreover, Peng emphasized the discrepancies in “Shandong Kai Ge’s” story, particularly the limited fuel supply he brought and the nine-hour duration he claimed his sea voyage took without showing signs of sunburn on his face, raising suspicions about the veracity of his claims.
Peng cautioned that if “Shandong Kai Ge” had indeed illegally traveled from the mainland to plant the Chinese flag on Guanyin Beach in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, he would face severe consequences if caught and prosecuted by Taiwanese authorities. Therefore, Peng suggested that the video might have been orchestrated with the assistance of potential pro-Communist collaborators in Taiwan.
Peng urged the Coast Guard and national security agencies of the Republic of China to investigate whether Chinese stowaways have military backgrounds and what navigation systems they use for traveling to Taiwan, as this information is crucial in preventing successful infiltration attempts by Chinese stowaways.
On the 19th, the Coast Guard Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council of the Republic of China held a press conference where Deputy Director and spokesperson Xie Qingqin confirmed the authenticity of the shoreline footage in “Shandong Kai Ge’s” video, pinpointing the location to be near the wind turbines in Dayuan District, Taoyuan City. However, the Coast Guard is verifying whether “Shandong Kai Ge” indeed piloted the rubber dinghy to smuggle into Taiwan or if the video was staged with the help of collaborators within Taiwan.
Xie mentioned that the straight-line distance from Changle, Fujian to Dayuan, Taoyuan is 95 nautical miles, estimating that a round trip would require 117 liters of fuel, which aligns with the four 30-liter fuel barrels as carried by “Shandong Kai Ge.” Despite the feasibility, Xie highlighted that such an endeavor would be extremely challenging. Based on previous cases, stowaways often suffer from severe dehydration or sunburn due to prolonged exposure to the sun onboard, something not apparent in “Shandong Kai Ge’s” video.