Legislative Yuan Preliminarily Approves Amendment to Coast Guard Organizational Act; Bipartisan Support for Adding a Third Deputy Director-General
A joint committee of the Legislative Yuan has preliminarily passed an amendment to increase the number of Coast Guard Administration Deputy Directors from two to three, aiming to strengthen command capabilities in response to growing national security and maritime challenges.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 13:32
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 14:01 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 14:34 (33 min after Collected)
(CNA Reporter Wang Yang-yu, Taipei, 22nd) The Legislative Yuan's joint committee today preliminarily passed draft amendments to Articles 3 and 11 of the Ocean Affairs Council Coast Guard Administration Organizational Act, changing the number of Coast Guard Deputy Director-Generals from two to three. This move is expected to comprehensively protect national maritime rights and security, while promoting sustainable ocean development.
According to the current provisions of Article 3 of the Organizational Act, the Coast Guard Administration has one Director-General, concurrently served by a Deputy Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, and two Deputy Director-Generals with civil service ranks between Grade 12 and 13.
The Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, along with the Internal Administration Committee, held a joint session today to review the draft amendments proposed by the Executive Yuan and ruling/opposition legislators. The contents were similar, all proposing the increase of Deputy Directors to three.
A written report submitted by the Ocean Affairs Council indicated that the situation in the waters surrounding Taiwan has become increasingly complex in recent years. The Coast Guard bears the three major missions of national security, public security, and general safety. Besides continuously enhancing maritime surveillance and patrols—utilizing radar, drones, and mobile fleet deployment to closely monitor Chinese official and militia vessels to prevent gray-zone tactics from impacting national security and maritime order—it also coordinates with the military's annual exercises, conducting joint command, communication, and tactical drills with the Army and Navy. These newly added military tasks have impacted regular duties.
The Ocean Affairs Council stated that the amendment aims to strengthen leadership to manage a maritime defense line spanning a vast 540,000 square kilometers nationwide. Furthermore, in response to international dynamics, it will help facilitate the peacetime-to-wartime transition and enhance national security resilience, justifying the addition of one Deputy Director under the Basic Code Governing Central Administrative Agencies Organizations.
The Council noted that the Coast Guard faces diverse challenges. Adding a third Deputy Director will assist in managing administrative affairs, establishing a professional law enforcement agency under the vision of a 'Unified Sea and Air, Elite Coast Guard' centered on technological innovation, precise law enforcement, and smart decision-making.
During committee discussions, legislators from across the political spectrum unanimously supported the amendment, passing the preliminary review based on the Executive Yuan's proposal. The bill will not require further negotiation by party caucuses.
According to the current provisions of Article 3 of the Organizational Act, the Coast Guard Administration has one Director-General, concurrently served by a Deputy Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, and two Deputy Director-Generals with civil service ranks between Grade 12 and 13.
The Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, along with the Internal Administration Committee, held a joint session today to review the draft amendments proposed by the Executive Yuan and ruling/opposition legislators. The contents were similar, all proposing the increase of Deputy Directors to three.
A written report submitted by the Ocean Affairs Council indicated that the situation in the waters surrounding Taiwan has become increasingly complex in recent years. The Coast Guard bears the three major missions of national security, public security, and general safety. Besides continuously enhancing maritime surveillance and patrols—utilizing radar, drones, and mobile fleet deployment to closely monitor Chinese official and militia vessels to prevent gray-zone tactics from impacting national security and maritime order—it also coordinates with the military's annual exercises, conducting joint command, communication, and tactical drills with the Army and Navy. These newly added military tasks have impacted regular duties.
The Ocean Affairs Council stated that the amendment aims to strengthen leadership to manage a maritime defense line spanning a vast 540,000 square kilometers nationwide. Furthermore, in response to international dynamics, it will help facilitate the peacetime-to-wartime transition and enhance national security resilience, justifying the addition of one Deputy Director under the Basic Code Governing Central Administrative Agencies Organizations.
The Council noted that the Coast Guard faces diverse challenges. Adding a third Deputy Director will assist in managing administrative affairs, establishing a professional law enforcement agency under the vision of a 'Unified Sea and Air, Elite Coast Guard' centered on technological innovation, precise law enforcement, and smart decision-making.
During committee discussions, legislators from across the political spectrum unanimously supported the amendment, passing the preliminary review based on the Executive Yuan's proposal. The bill will not require further negotiation by party caucuses.