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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

Taiwan Coast Guard broadcasts strong warning to Chinese ship in cable area

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Taiwan's Coast Guard issued a strong warning and broadcast to a Chinese cargo ship, the "Kang Man Hao," for intruding into a sensitive submarine cable area.
  • The incident is seen as part of China's ongoing "gray zone" tactics, testing Taiwan's response to critical infrastructure intrusions.
  • The Coast Guard successfully deterred the vessel, preventing potential sabotage or underwater probing of the cables, which are vital for Taiwan's communications and economy.

Taiwan's Coast Guard issued a firm broadcast to a Chinese cargo ship, the "Kang Man Hao," ordering it to immediately leave an area containing vital submarine communication cables. The incident highlights China's escalating "gray zone" tactics aimed at testing Taiwan's response capabilities.

According to radio intercepts shared by military enthusiasts, the 14th Coast Guard team detected the suspicious vessel lingering in the sensitive maritime zone. The patrol boat issued a direct warning: "14th Coast Guard team, your current location is within our country's submarine cable area. Please leave immediately! Leave now!"

14th Coast Guard team, your current location is within our country's submarine cable area. Please leave immediately! Leave now!

— Taiwan Coast GuardBroadcasting a warning to the intruding Chinese cargo ship.

Despite the stern warning, the "Kang Man Hao" initially attempted to circle the area. Coast Guard personnel then escalated their instructions, directing the ship's course: "Can you go a bit north? Go north! Because your position is still within our submarine cable area, our superiors have instructed you to go north, go north! Please leave the area, go about five nautical miles north or south. Thank you!"

Military experts interpret this intrusion as a deliberate move by China to extend its "gray zone" warfare beyond mere military intimidation. The focus has shifted to covert interference and pressure testing against critical infrastructure. The Coast Guard's swift and decisive action in identifying the target and expelling the vessel is seen as a successful prevention of potential underwater reconnaissance or sabotage attempts, demonstrating Taiwan's resolve to protect its maritime borders and national security.

Can you go a bit north? Go north! Because your position is still within our submarine cable area, our superiors have instructed you to go north, go north! Please leave the area, go about five nautical miles north or south. Thank you!

— Taiwan Coast GuardIssuing further instructions to the vessel after it failed to immediately depart.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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