Today (9th), 5 Chinese coast guard ships and 7 government ships sailed into the restricted waters of Kinmen for the fourth time this May. This is the first time both coast guard and government ships entered together. The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration called for an end to irrational behavior and monitored the situation throughout, broadcasting orders to leave the area.
According to reports from Central News Agency, the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Taiwan Coast Guard started monitoring the southern waters of Kinmen at noon. Five Chinese coast guard ships and seven government ships gathered in the area. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched six patrol boats to monitor and gather evidence, and broadcasted orders to leave.
In the afternoon around 3 pm, Taiwan Coast Guard discovered a group of 7 government ships consisting of “Patrol 06”, “Patrol 0802”, “Chinese Sea Surveillance 8002”, “Chinese Sea Surveillance 8027”, “Donghai Rescue 113”, “Chinese Fisheries 35501”, and “Hua Ying 391”. These ships belonged to Chinese maritime and fishing departments and entered the restricted waters about 4 nautical miles southwest of Kinmen Loro, where three other Chinese fishing boats appeared to be conducting maritime exercises. Kinmen Coast Guard dispatched three patrol boats, PP-10079, PP-3552, and PP-3573, to monitor, gather evidence and broadcast orders to leave.
At the same time, four Chinese coast guard ships, “14608”, “14512”, “14604”, “14603”, formed another group and sailed into the restricted waters south of Datan in Kinmen. Another vessel, “14515”, sailed on the outskirts of Taiwan’s waters. Kinmen Coast Guard deployed three patrol boats, PP-10083, 10073, and 3596 to continue monitoring, gathering evidence and broadcasting orders to leave. It was not until 4:30 pm, under the surveillance of the Coast Guard patrol boats, that the Chinese coast guard and government ships left the waters of Kinmen.
The Taiwan Coast Guard stated that this is the fourth time this month that Chinese coast guard ships have sailed into the waters of Kinmen, and the first time they have entered simultaneously with other Chinese government ships.
The Taiwan Coast Guard urged that the southern waters of Kinmen are an important maritime route with heavy maritime traffic. The high-speed navigation of Chinese vessels in this area in formation has seriously disrupted cross-strait peace, stability, and maritime safety, harming the emotions of people on both sides and not conducive to peaceful exchanges between the two sides.
Regarding the claims by the Chinese coast guard of routine law enforcement in the Kinmen-Xiamen sea area, the Coast Guard, along with the Ministry of National Defense, is using joint intelligence surveillance methods to closely monitor the situation in the surrounding waters of Kinmen and implement response plans to ensure maritime safety in the region and the fishing rights of fishermen.