On the eve of the first anniversary of President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration in the Republic of China, mainland Chinese citizens have been repeatedly piloting rubber boats to illegally cross into Taiwanese beaches. On May 16, a father and son surnamed Song sailed a rubber boat across the Taiwan Strait to Taiwan and were subsequently arrested. Two days later, on the 18th, a Douyin (TikTok) internet celebrity uploaded a video claiming to have successfully crossed into Taiwan on a rubber boat, planted the Chinese national flag, and safely returned to the mainland. Experts have pointed out that regardless of their motives, such actions could have security implications for Taiwan.
The father and son surnamed Song crossed the Taiwan Strait from Pingtan, Fujian, and landed on the beach at Guanyin Seawater Bathing Beach in Taoyuan on May 15. After spending a night by the sea, they voluntarily reported to the authorities the next day, claiming their intention was to “seek freedom.” The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration found their motives suspicious, not ruling out the possibility of a “gray area infiltration” by the Chinese Communist Party.
Following inquiries by the northern division of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, the father and son were handed over to the Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office. The father was remanded in custody by the Taoyuan prosecutors for two months, while the juvenile was temporarily entrusted to the Immigration Department.
Reportedly, the 41-year-old father surnamed Song, claiming to be from Yunnan, China, stated that he was persecuted on the mainland and sought “freedom,” hence he brought his 17-year-old son on the 3.3-meter-long rubber boat to Taiwan. The Coast Guard Administration mentioned that the small size of the rubber boat made it difficult for radar detection.
On May 18, a mainland internet user self-identified as “Shandong Kaige” posted a video on social media, claiming to have sailed solo from Changle, Fujian, on May 15, spent 9 hours crossing the Taiwan Strait, arrived at the Taoyuan beach at 2:53 pm that day, planted the Chinese national flag on the beach, and then returned safely. The Taiwan Coast Guard confirmed the video authenticity without any signs of tampering, and the location was indeed along the coast of Taoyuan.
It was estimated that the straight-line distance from Changle to Taoyuan is about 95 nautical miles (176 kilometers), requiring at least 58 liters of fuel for a single-person rubber boat journey, making the crossing a “very strenuous” process.
These are not the first instances of individuals entering Taiwan in this manner. On June 9, 2024, a man surnamed Ruan suddenly appeared in Tamsui, Taiwan, driving a speedboat, and was subsequently arrested by the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration. Tamsui River is a major river in northern Taiwan, strategically significant as it leads directly to the center of Taipei. Investigation revealed that the man surnamed Ruan was a former boat captain in the Chinese Navy, possessing extensive navigation experience.
Ruan told investigators that he was restricted from leaving China due to some comments he made on WeChat. In pursuit of “freedom,” he took the risky move of navigating illegally through the sea to Taiwan.
Former Beijing Normal University professor Li Yuanhua told Da Ji Yuan that “small inflatable rafts like these are undetectable by radar, posing a significant security risk for Taiwan. Given the tensions between Taiwan and the mainland, conducting coastal patrols is not a viable option anymore, thus this incident serves as a wakeup call for Taiwan in terms of defense.”
“Such actions will pressure the Taiwan government, subjecting them to criticism for being lax on defense. Therefore, despite its practical implications, the publicity surrounding such incidents is greater. By illegally crossing during sensitive periods, they draw attention,” Li stated.
Li Yuanhua further suggested that those claiming to seek refuge in the free world should be scrutinized. With various legal means available to reach Taiwan, it is questionable why one would resort to such risky or suspicious methods.
Regarding the issue of mainland citizens risking illegal entry into Taiwan, Shen Mingshi, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, told Da Ji Yuan, “Regardless of their motives, it will have implications for Taiwan’s security.”
“Firstly, if they have infiltration intentions, once inside, it’s not as simple as planting a flag or recording a video. They could potentially infiltrate critical infrastructure and carry out harmful actions. Secondly, they could test Taiwan’s response patterns through this mode of infiltration, serving as reference for future incursions.”
“Moreover, there have been many mainland Chinese tourists or brides constantly filming major attractions or facilities in Taiwan, possibly with the intent of gathering information or data accumulation. Therefore, the Coast Guard should strictly monitor or investigate these illegal immigrants, showing no leniency. Their reasons, whether seeking freedom or dealing with debts, could all be superficial, warranting closer scrutiny or investigation of their true intentions.”
Shen Mingshi emphasized that for monitoring small vessels like these, Taiwan must enhance the density of ground-based radar, aerial patrols, or maritime surveillance if radar detection fails. Preventing such legal border crossings or monitoring them is crucial, especially for critical infrastructure units. Any unfamiliar or suspicious individuals should be reported to the police or relevant security authorities to counteract their potential objectives and deter them from achieving their goals.
Shen Mingshi warned that “currently, the situation may appear calm, but at critical times, this could become a ‘Fifth Column’ targeting important objectives or individuals with attack actions. Especially since the Communist Party has not ruled out using force against Taiwan, any actions disrupting or undermining Taiwan could be their chosen modus operandi.”