On Tuesday night (July 2), tensions escalated between Taiwan and China as a fishing boat from Penghu, named “Da Jin Man 88,” was operating in waters off Kinmen and was approached by two Chinese coast guard ships. The Chinese vessels took photos, conducted a forced inspection, and then brought the fishing boat to a port in China, further escalating the cross-strait tensions.
According to a statement from the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, the incident took place approximately 23.7 nautical miles northeast of Lieyu Port in Kinmen, where the “Da Jin Man 88” was boarded and detained by Chinese coast guard ships with identification numbers 14057 and 14603.
Upon receiving notification from the boat owner, the Taiwan Coast Guard immediately dispatched the 10081 patrol boat (14.3 nautical miles away from the scene), the 3505 boat (31.4 nautical miles away), and subsequently sent the emergency response boat 10039 to provide assistance in rescuing the fishing boat.
At 9:14 PM, the Taiwan Coast Guard patrol boat 10081 was intercepted by three Chinese coast guard ships. The Taiwanese vessel broadcasted a request for the release of the fishing boat, while the Chinese ships responded over the broadcast asking Taiwan not to interfere.
The statement mentioned that as the Taiwan Coast Guard ships had entered the baseline of China’s territorial waters, to avoid further escalation of the conflict, the rescue operation was halted. The Taiwan fishing boat, its captain, and five foreign crew members were then taken to the Chinese port of Weitou.
The Taiwan Coast Guard pointed out that the location where the “Da Jin Man 88” was inspected was 11.2 nautical miles from Jinjiang City, China, and it was during China’s fishing moratorium period. The Cross-Strait Affairs Council and the Fisheries Agency will coordinate through channels for further actions.
The Coast Guard urged China not to politicize the incident, which could damage cross-strait relations, and to release the boat and its crew promptly.
Since the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) retreated to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War in 1949, Taipei has maintained control over Kinmen and its adjacent waters. The recent incident has raised concerns internationally about Chinese interference in maritime activities around Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened military action if Taiwan refuses unification. In recent years, China has intensified military exercises near Taiwan, increasing pressure on the island.
In February this year, two Chinese fishermen illegally fishing in waters near Kinmen drowned during a chase by Taiwan Coast Guard ships. China has since sent regular patrols of coast guard ships around Kinmen, citing it as a “new law enforcement mode,” which Taiwan had initially designated as restricted waters.
In May, during military exercises near Taiwan, Chinese coast guard ships simulated boarding inspections near Taiwan for the first time.
These actions, along with regular patrols by Chinese vessels near Kinmen, have heightened concerns among the United States and its Asian allies, who criticize China for expanding aggressive activities and engaging in “grey zone operations” in the Indo-Pacific region.
In response to the growing threat from China, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the Pentagon announced on June 5 that the U.S. State Department had approved the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft spare parts and maintenance components to Taiwan. The department stated that this arms sale will help “enhance recipient security and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”