Chinese Government Vessels Fake Jurisdiction Broadcasts; Taiwan Coast Guard Issues Stern Warning

(Central News Agency, reporter Huang Liyun, Taipei, 9th) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) stated today that five Chinese government vessels, using the Japan-Philippines negotiations as a pretext, intruded into Taiwan's eastern waters. While the vessels had moved away from Taiwan's waters by the morning, they had previously made fake jurisdiction broadcasts to three passing merchant ships, prompting a stern warning from CGA vessels.

The Ocean Affairs Council's CGA issued a press release stating that the five Chinese vessels—"Haixun 06," "Haixun 08," "Haixun 09," "Donghaijiu 113," and "Haijing 2202"—had moved northward and away from Taiwan's waters by 11:00 AM, located 40 nautical miles east of Pengjia Islet (12 nautical miles outside Taiwan's restricted waters). CGA vessels continue to monitor the situation.

The CGA stated that the Chinese vessels used the Japan-Philippines negotiations as a cover to intrude into Taiwan's eastern waters. The CGA had pre-deployed vessels to shadow and monitor them. During this time, the Chinese vessels broadcast inquiries to three passing merchant ships regarding their port entries and other information. CGA vessels immediately responded sternly, stating, "China is violating international law; there is no need to heed this harassment."

Specifically, the CGA vessel "Changbin" overheard "Haixun 06" broadcasting to a Singapore-flagged vessel "E" at 1:00 PM on the 7th, inquiring about port entry and crew numbers, approximately 39 nautical miles southwest of Eluanbi (5 nautical miles outside restricted waters). At 6:08 AM on the 9th, the "Hualien" vessel overheard "Haixun 06" broadcasting to a Liberian-flagged vessel "S" 34 nautical miles east of Su'ao (7 nautical miles outside restricted waters). At 8:43 AM on the 9th, the "Yilan" vessel overheard "Haixun 06" calling a Benin-flagged vessel "A" 33 nautical miles east of Sandiaojiao (8.5 nautical miles outside restricted waters).

The CGA stated that it immediately broadcast a warning to the Chinese vessels: "This is the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of China (Taiwan). China has no jurisdiction here. Please do not harass passing vessels. Your actions violate international law. I demand you leave immediately."

Simultaneously, CGA vessels broadcast to the passing merchant ships: "This is the waters of the Republic of China. China has no sovereign rights or jurisdiction here. Please continue normal navigation and ignore the Chinese government vessel's broadcasts. If you require any assistance, please contact Taiwan Coast Guard vessels immediately via radio or other communication methods."

The CGA emphasized that it used integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance means, deploying vessels to monitor the Chinese vessels throughout the incident. All vessels navigating through Taiwan's waters continued normal navigation and were not boarded, approached, or interfered with by the Chinese vessels.

The CGA reiterated, "Where the Coast Guard is, sovereignty is." It stated its unwavering determination to defend freedom of navigation at sea and will expel any country asserting jurisdiction. In response to China's frequent use of gray-zone tactics and cognitive warfare to create a false impression of jurisdiction, the CGA stated it is fully prepared and will take all necessary measures to ensure national sovereignty and maritime security.