Recently, the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration’s Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu Branch stated that the marine conditions have been harsh due to the northeasterly winds. However, on the 25th, the weather improved. Around 2 p.m., the Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu Branch detected four Chinese coast guard ships approaching the restricted waters of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the sea south of Kinmen. They immediately dispatched four patrol vessels to drive them away.
At 2:50 p.m. on the 25th, the four Chinese coast guard ships, numbered “14609,” “14608,” “14513,” and “14515,” sailed from various locations around Kinmen like Fuxing Islet, Zhaitan Islet, Luoro Islet, and Beiding Islet, entering Taiwan’s territorial waters from the outside.
The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration deployed four patrol vessels in parallel one-on-one matching. They issued warnings in both Chinese and English throughout the operation, firmly declaring their law enforcement stance, and conducting evidence searches to drive them away. The Chinese coast guard ships, monitored by our patrol vessels, left by 5 p.m., after a 2-hour and 10-minute encounter.
The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration emphasized that the Chinese coast guard ships harassed Taiwan in busy maritime traffic lanes, disrupting equal exchanges between the two sides. They urged the mainland side to recognize the importance of regional peace and stability and to cease such provocative actions.
In the face of the intrusion by the Chinese coast guard ship fleet, the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration stated that they will continue to uphold the principles of non-provocation and non-retreat, firmly safeguarding maritime safety and order, and exerting all efforts to defend national sovereignty.