Coast Guard on Gray-Zone Harassment: Complete SOPs in Place, Neither Provoking Nor Showing Weakness
At the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration Director-General Chang Chung-lung stated that Taiwan is highly experienced in handling China's gray-zone harassment, possessing complete SOPs and maintaining a stance of "neither provoking nor showing weakness."
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 14:35
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 15:02 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 16:54 (25h 52m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wang Yang-yu, Taipei, 22nd) Legislators today raised concerns during interpellations regarding whether the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has long-term, systematic countermeasures against China's gray-zone harassment. CGA Director-General Chang Chung-lung stated that Taiwan is the most experienced in this area, possessing a complete set of standard operating procedures (SOPs). He added that these countermeasures are internationally recognized, and emphasized, "We have always maintained a stance of neither provoking nor showing weakness."
The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, along with the Internal Administration Committee, held a joint meeting today to review draft amendments to Articles 3 and 11 of the Ocean Affairs Council Coast Guard Administration Organization Act proposed by the Executive Yuan and ruling/opposition legislators. Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister and CGA Director-General Chang Chung-lung and others attended to explain and take questions.
During his interpellation, DPP legislator Shen Fa-hui expressed concern over the intrusion of Chinese coast guard vessels and the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration's "Haixun 1630" into Kinmen waters on the 21st, leading to the CGA deploying patrol boats to sail alongside and monitor them. He noted that Chinese state vessels routinely enter restricted waters under the guise of law enforcement and hoped the CGA would have comprehensive countermeasures.
Chang Chung-lung responded that Chinese coast guard vessels routinely harass the Kinmen and Matsu areas, entering Kinmen's restricted waters roughly four times a month. The CGA has a complete SOP to handle this. For harassment incidents, they record evidence throughout the process, speak out to foreign media, and inform other countries and Taiwan's allies about how mainland China uses gray-zone tactics to harass the Kinmen and Matsu regions.
KMT legislator Hsu Yu-chen praised frontline coast guard personnel for constantly holding their posts but stressed that this requires even more comprehensive preparation. She asked what long-term systematic countermeasures the CGA has in place.
Chang replied that in terms of handling China's gray-zone harassment worldwide, Taiwan's Coast Guard is the most experienced. Other countries come to the CGA to learn from them. Currently, Taiwan's approach has won international recognition because its law enforcement performance is highly effective.
Hsu pressed further, asking if the CGA has clear, actionable, graded response and reporting protocols for frontline personnel when the opposing side engages in ramming or aggressive approaches at sea.
"We are always non-provocative, but we also do not show weakness. Whatever actions they take against us, we will respond with equal intensity," Chang assured the legislator. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150422
(Central News Agency reporter Wang Yang-yu, Taipei, 22nd) Legislators today raised concerns during interpellations regarding whether the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has long-term, systematic countermeasures against China's gray-zone harassment. CGA Director-General Chang Chung-lung stated that Taiwan is the most experienced in this area, possessing a complete set of standard operating procedures (SOPs). He added that these countermeasures are internationally recognized, and emphasized, "We have always maintained a stance of neither provoking nor showing weakness."
The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, along with the Internal Administration Committee, held a joint meeting today to review draft amendments to Articles 3 and 11 of the Ocean Affairs Council Coast Guard Administration Organization Act proposed by the Executive Yuan and ruling/opposition legislators. Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister and CGA Director-General Chang Chung-lung and others attended to explain and take questions.
During his interpellation, DPP legislator Shen Fa-hui expressed concern over the intrusion of Chinese coast guard vessels and the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration's "Haixun 1630" into Kinmen waters on the 21st, leading to the CGA deploying patrol boats to sail alongside and monitor them. He noted that Chinese state vessels routinely enter restricted waters under the guise of law enforcement and hoped the CGA would have comprehensive countermeasures.
Chang Chung-lung responded that Chinese coast guard vessels routinely harass the Kinmen and Matsu areas, entering Kinmen's restricted waters roughly four times a month. The CGA has a complete SOP to handle this. For harassment incidents, they record evidence throughout the process, speak out to foreign media, and inform other countries and Taiwan's allies about how mainland China uses gray-zone tactics to harass the Kinmen and Matsu regions.
KMT legislator Hsu Yu-chen praised frontline coast guard personnel for constantly holding their posts but stressed that this requires even more comprehensive preparation. She asked what long-term systematic countermeasures the CGA has in place.
Chang replied that in terms of handling China's gray-zone harassment worldwide, Taiwan's Coast Guard is the most experienced. Other countries come to the CGA to learn from them. Currently, Taiwan's approach has won international recognition because its law enforcement performance is highly effective.
Hsu pressed further, asking if the CGA has clear, actionable, graded response and reporting protocols for frontline personnel when the opposing side engages in ramming or aggressive approaches at sea.
"We are always non-provocative, but we also do not show weakness. Whatever actions they take against us, we will respond with equal intensity," Chang assured the legislator. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150422