The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration announced that on the morning of the 11th, a Chinese Coast Guard ship “3101” was detected heading towards the jurisdictional waters of Dongsha Island in the northeast. The Taiwan Coast Guard vessel “Tainan” was dispatched to drive it away, closely monitoring its movements, and the Chinese Coast Guard ship departed to the north on the 12th afternoon.
The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration issued a press release stating that on the morning of the 11th at 6:15 am, the Dongsha Command of the Southeastern Coral Branch intercepted the Chinese Coast Guard vessel “3101” heading towards the jurisdictional waters of Dongsha Island, indicating its course was towards Taiwan’s jurisdictional waters. The Coast Guard immediately directed the on-duty vessel “Tainan” to initiate the drive-away operation and closely monitored the movement of the Chinese Coast Guard ship. The Chinese Coast Guard “3101” sailed north at 2:39 pm on the 12th, 28.1 nautical miles north of Dongsha.
The Southeastern Coral Branch of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration pointed out that on the 9th, the Chinese State Council announced the establishment of the so-called “Yongxing Island National Nature Reserve” in an attempt to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, illegally designating Yongxing Island as a protected area. However, the Chinese Coast Guard ships continue to harass the waters of the Dongsha Atoll National Park.
Furthermore, the Southeastern Coral Branch of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration stated that on the evening of the 12th, following the drive-away operation of the Chinese Coast Guard “3101” by the Taiwan Coast Guard vessel “Tainan”, at 6:31 pm a Chinese fishing boat “Yue Huilai Fishing 04887” was found 11.6 nautical miles east of Dongsha Island illegally entering the waters of Dongsha.
The Coast Guard immediately deployed the Dongsha Squadron CP-1025 and 1026 boats for inspection and successfully seized a small boat from the Chinese boat “Yue” with 3 people on board, and forcefully drove the boat out of the restricted waters of Dongsha Island.
The Southeastern Coral Branch of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration stated that while the Coast Guard continues to vigilantly guard against Chinese Coast Guard ship harassment, it also remains vigilant against Chinese fishing boats crossing the border for illegal fishing. This time, the Chinese fishing boat “Yue Huilai Fishing 04887” took advantage of the opportunity to enter the waters of Dongsha and deployed small boats, attempting to operate within the atoll under the cover of night.
On the 12th at 11:09 pm, the Coast Guard successfully inspected and seized a small boat from China, and forcefully escorted the “Yue” boat out of the waters of Dongsha, demonstrating the Coast Guard’s firm determination and ability to protect the ecology and resources of Dongsha.
Dongsha National Park is a marine protected area where all types of fishing and fishing are strictly prohibited by Taiwan, the highest standard of marine protection. Since January, the Taiwan Coast Guard has driven away Chinese fishing boats from the Dongsha waters 145 times, seized 10 small boats, and cracked down on illegal fishing activities by Chinese fishing boats multiple times, including barbaric acts such as illegal fishing, consumption of green turtles, and destruction of coral reefs, revealing the Chinese Coast Guard’s tolerance of Chinese fishing boats entering Dongsha waters for fishing and failure to fulfill their responsibility for environmental protection.
The Taiwan Coast Guard pointed out that in recent years, Chinese Coast Guard ships have frequently engaged in provocations and encroachments against neighboring countries in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region, affecting regional security and stability. They continue to harass Taiwan’s Dongsha waters through the “grey zone strategy”, the Coast Guard will continue to dispatch vessels to guard the Dongsha waters and firmly defend national sovereignty.
The Coast Guard emphasized that Taiwan is an indispensable democratic country in the Indo-Pacific region and a key player in maintaining regional and global security. It hopes that countries with similar values and principles will unite to safeguard peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard sternly urges China to restrain its vessels from illegally entering the waters of Dongsha and will continue to deploy large vessels to patrol the Dongsha waters, in conjunction with the Dongsha Command stationed on the island, safeguarding the Dongsha waters around the clock, cracking down on Chinese fishing boats crossing the border, and resolutely defending national sovereignty and maritime interests, ensuring the sustainable development of resources in the Dongsha waters.