Taiwan Coast Guard Drives Away Chinese Vessels from Kinmen Restricted Waters

Taiwan's Coast Guard aggressively responded to the intrusion of four Chinese Coast Guard vessels into waters near Kinmen, shortly after Typhoon Barway had passed through the region. The Chinese vessels entered the restricted waters around 3 p.m. today, prompting an immediate deployment of four Taiwanese patrol boats.

Taiwanese patrol vessels engaged in parallel navigation with the Chinese ships, maintaining close surveillance and documenting the encounter. Through radio broadcasts in both Mandarin and English, the Taiwanese Coast Guard issued strong demands for the Chinese vessels to depart the area. The Chinese ships eventually left the waters around 5 p.m. under the persistent monitoring and directives from Taiwan's Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Administration's Kinma-Penghu-Matsu Branch condemned China's actions, characterizing them as irrational, unprofessional, and a threat to maritime safety. They highlighted that the intrusion occurred amidst unstable sea conditions following the typhoon, emphasizing China's disregard for safety in pursuit of political objectives. The branch reiterated its commitment to maintaining order in Kinmen's waters and called on China to cease its provocative behavior and focus on post-disaster recovery and serving its people.