TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Coast Guard officials on Wednesday (July 3) expressed frustration over the forcible boarding and detention of the Penghu-registered fishing boat Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88號) by Chinese coast guard vessels the previous night.
They stated that rescue boats were dispatched immediately, and the vessel's release demands were broadcast. Some local media described the incident as "retaliation against President Lai Ching-te (賴清德)," which the Coast Guard criticized as another example of Chinese cognitive warfare.
The incident occurred around 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday near Kinmen, where the Da Jin Man No.88 allegedly crossed into Chinese waters. Chinese authorities detained the boat and took it back to China. This detention happened during China's summer fishing moratorium, leading some media to cite fishermen's claims of political retaliation against President Lai.
The Coast Guard emphasized their prompt response to secure the safety of the Taiwanese vessel. Since 2003, Chinese coast guard harassment of Taiwanese fishing boats has included three incidents during the fishing moratorium: two suspected of illegal activities and one politically motivated. Excluding the current case, twenty boats have undergone Chinese harassment.
Recent aggressive actions by China in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and around Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu islands have drawn international attention and controversy. Party officials noted that China's assertive behavior in nearby waters is becoming more frequent, criticizing some domestic media for maliciously linking these actions to cross-strait relations and retaliation against President Lai.
