TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council's (海洋委員會) Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch (金馬澎分署) deployed four patrol boats to monitor and repel four China Coast Guard vessels on Wednesday (Aug. 21).
The intruders entered the restricted waters of Kinmen twice, prompting a swift response from Taiwan's Coast Guard.
At 8:50 a.m., radar detected the Chinese vessels, identified by hull numbers 14515, 14607, 14608, and 14504, approaching from four different points. The patrol boats engaged in one-on-one shadowing and issued warnings in both Chinese and English. The vessels exited the restricted waters by 11 a.m. after a two-hour standoff.
The Chinese vessels re-entered Kinmen's restricted zone at 2:50 p.m. The Coast Guard repeated its earlier actions, successfully driving the vessels out by 5 p.m. The incursions lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes each time.
The Coast Guard Administration attributed the increased maritime activity to the end of China's seasonal fishing ban. They emphasized the importance of regional peace and stability and urged China to cease such actions.
The administration reiterated its commitment to defending Taiwan's sovereignty and maintaining order in its waters. They stated, "No provocation, no conflict, no avoidance, no showing of weakness" (不挑釁、不衝突、不迴避、不示弱), underscoring their firm stance on safeguarding the nation's maritime rights.
