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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

Taiwan Coast Guard Drives Out Chinese Vessels After AIS Disabling Near Kinmen

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Four Chinese coast guard vessels entered waters near Kinmen, Taiwan, on June 18, with at least one reportedly disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS).
  • Taiwan's Coast Guard detected the vessels and deployed patrol boats to monitor and warn them, eventually driving them out of the restricted waters.
  • This incident marks the latest in a series of incursions into Kinmen's waters by Chinese coast guard ships ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival, with Taiwan's Coast Guard vowing to maintain regional peace and stability.

Taiwan's Coast Guard reported that four Chinese coast guard vessels intruded into waters near Kinmen on June 18, with at least one vessel allegedly operating in "dark ship" mode by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to conceal its presence.

The Chinese coast guard vessels, using the 'dark ship' mode by deliberately shutting off their Automatic Identification System (AIS), attempted to conceal their movements.

— Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Coast Guard AdministrationDescribing the tactics used by Chinese vessels during the incursion.

The Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Coast Guard Administration stated that the Chinese vessels entered Kinmen's prohibited and restricted waters in a single-file formation around 3 p.m. Taiwan's patrol boats were immediately dispatched to conduct a "one-on-one" parallel monitoring, collect evidence, and broadcast warnings in both Chinese and English, demanding the vessels turn and leave.

We immediately dispatched patrol boats for 'one-on-one' parallel monitoring, collected full evidence, and broadcast warnings in Chinese and English, demanding the Chinese coast guard vessels immediately turn and navigate away.

— Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Coast Guard AdministrationDetailing Taiwan's response to the intrusion.

Under continuous pressure from Taiwan's assertive response, the four Chinese coast guard vessels eventually exited Kinmen's restricted waters around 5 p.m. The Coast Guard Administration noted that this incident follows previous incursions on June 3 and June 16, occurring just before the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. During these encounters, Chinese vessels reportedly broadcast pro-unification messages.

We sternly warn and respond, demanding that the Chinese coast guard immediately cease irrational harassment, which is the only way to maintain regional peace.

— Kinmen Coast GuardResponding to Chinese vessels broadcasting pro-unification messages.

Taiwan's Coast Guard issued stern warnings, urging China to cease "irrational harassment" as the only path to maintaining regional peace. The Administration emphasized its commitment to a firm law enforcement stance to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait amidst persistent "gray-zone" harassment tactics by the Chinese coast guard.

Facing continuous gray-zone harassment behavior by Chinese coast guard vessels, the Coast Guard will continue to uphold a firm law enforcement stance to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

— Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Coast Guard AdministrationStating Taiwan's commitment to defending its maritime territory.
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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