National Haiguang Awards Debut; President Lai: Driving the Comprehensive Transformation of the Coast Guard
President Lai Ching-te attended the inaugural National Haiguang Awards, honoring 17 groups and 17 individuals, and vowed to modernize the Coast Guard with high-tech equipment to counter grey zone threats.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 13:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 13:31 (20 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(CNA, Taipei, 28th) The first National Haiguang Awards ceremony was held today, with 17 groups and 17 individuals receiving awards. President Lai Ching-te stated that the significance of this award is to make the Coast Guard's protection visible. Faced with new future challenges, the government is driving a comprehensive transformation of the Coast Guard, building integrated sea and air monitoring capabilities.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) held the '2026 National Haiguang Award Ceremony' this morning, attended by President Lai, National Security Council Secretary-General Wu Jau-shieh, and Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling.
In his speech, President Lai said that the OAC held the inaugural National Haiguang Awards, thanking the Friends of the Coast Guard General Association for establishing this award. Their long-term support ensures that Coast Guard personnel know they have backing and social forces walking with them during their duties.
At the same time, he thanked top consultants Yeh Kuo-i and Hu Hui-sen for their years of concern for Coast Guard development and their long-term investment of effort and resources.
President Lai noted that the winners have shown outstanding performance in national maritime security, crime detection, disaster rescue, and ocean conservation. He congratulated them on behalf of the nation and thanked all Coast Guard personnel for their hard work.
He mentioned that in recent years, China's grey zone actions and harassment have increased daily, attempting to create a 'new normal' of 'breaking the status quo.' Various encroachments, harassments, and depletions represent daily pressure for frontline Coast Guard personnel. Whether in cross-border drug interdiction, illegal boundary interception, sea rescue, or handling various emergencies, Coast Guard personnel always stand at the forefront without yielding.
'The meaning of the National Haiguang Award is to let these protections be seen and this spirit be passed on.' President Lai said that from the winning deeds, it can be seen how the Coast Guard continues to stably handle maritime situations under grey zone pressure. In terms of critical infrastructure, they combine cross-departmental energy to protect undersea cables, ensuring that national operations are unaffected.
Furthermore, when facing continuous harassment from Chinese Coast Guard ships, Coast Guard vessels resolutely respond throughout the process, maintaining the safety of the waters and ships of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. In executing rescue missions, Coast Guard personnel bring the public safely back to shore despite harsh weather. Many others have silently accumulated results in daily duties, leaving no room for crime.
President Lai believes that facing new challenges, the Coast Guard's role will only become more critical. The government is promoting the comprehensive transformation of the Coast Guard, building integrated sea and air monitoring capabilities, including the expanded deployment of drones, next-generation radar systems, and important high-tech equipment like infrared thermal imaging systems to strengthen Coast Guard power.
In addition, the government will actively increase various allowances for Coast Guard personnel and renovate old constructions of Coast Guard units nationwide to give greater support. He believes that with continued effort and the combination of professional and private power, Taiwan can continue to move forward stably, safeguarding national security and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Kuan Bi-ling also stated that this award is not just personal recognition but is intended to let society see that 'on these waters of Taiwan, there is a group of people standing on the front line for years, taking risks and maintaining order.' The challenges faced by the Coast Guard have undergone significant changes, from cracking down on smuggling and human trafficking to protecting undersea cables and critical infrastructure.
More importantly, she mentioned that the Coast Guard is facing maritime grey zone harassment. Under changing international situations, from peace-to-war transition to national security resilience, the Coast Guard always stands on the front line, not only undertaking law enforcement tasks but also guarding boundaries, sovereignty, and the daily life of the country's freedom and democracy.
The CGA stated via press release that the group awards include four categories: 'National Security and Maritime Order,' 'Lifesaving and Rescue,' 'Maintaining Fishing Rights and Ocean Conservation,' and 'Comprehensive Planning,' with 17 groups winning. Individual awards have four categories: 'National Security and Maritime Law Enforcement,' 'Crime Detection,' 'Disaster Rescue,' and 'Comprehensive Assessment,' with 17 individuals winning. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150428
(CNA, Taipei, 28th) The first National Haiguang Awards ceremony was held today, with 17 groups and 17 individuals receiving awards. President Lai Ching-te stated that the significance of this award is to make the Coast Guard's protection visible. Faced with new future challenges, the government is driving a comprehensive transformation of the Coast Guard, building integrated sea and air monitoring capabilities.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) held the '2026 National Haiguang Award Ceremony' this morning, attended by President Lai, National Security Council Secretary-General Wu Jau-shieh, and Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling.
In his speech, President Lai said that the OAC held the inaugural National Haiguang Awards, thanking the Friends of the Coast Guard General Association for establishing this award. Their long-term support ensures that Coast Guard personnel know they have backing and social forces walking with them during their duties.
At the same time, he thanked top consultants Yeh Kuo-i and Hu Hui-sen for their years of concern for Coast Guard development and their long-term investment of effort and resources.
President Lai noted that the winners have shown outstanding performance in national maritime security, crime detection, disaster rescue, and ocean conservation. He congratulated them on behalf of the nation and thanked all Coast Guard personnel for their hard work.
He mentioned that in recent years, China's grey zone actions and harassment have increased daily, attempting to create a 'new normal' of 'breaking the status quo.' Various encroachments, harassments, and depletions represent daily pressure for frontline Coast Guard personnel. Whether in cross-border drug interdiction, illegal boundary interception, sea rescue, or handling various emergencies, Coast Guard personnel always stand at the forefront without yielding.
'The meaning of the National Haiguang Award is to let these protections be seen and this spirit be passed on.' President Lai said that from the winning deeds, it can be seen how the Coast Guard continues to stably handle maritime situations under grey zone pressure. In terms of critical infrastructure, they combine cross-departmental energy to protect undersea cables, ensuring that national operations are unaffected.
Furthermore, when facing continuous harassment from Chinese Coast Guard ships, Coast Guard vessels resolutely respond throughout the process, maintaining the safety of the waters and ships of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. In executing rescue missions, Coast Guard personnel bring the public safely back to shore despite harsh weather. Many others have silently accumulated results in daily duties, leaving no room for crime.
President Lai believes that facing new challenges, the Coast Guard's role will only become more critical. The government is promoting the comprehensive transformation of the Coast Guard, building integrated sea and air monitoring capabilities, including the expanded deployment of drones, next-generation radar systems, and important high-tech equipment like infrared thermal imaging systems to strengthen Coast Guard power.
In addition, the government will actively increase various allowances for Coast Guard personnel and renovate old constructions of Coast Guard units nationwide to give greater support. He believes that with continued effort and the combination of professional and private power, Taiwan can continue to move forward stably, safeguarding national security and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Kuan Bi-ling also stated that this award is not just personal recognition but is intended to let society see that 'on these waters of Taiwan, there is a group of people standing on the front line for years, taking risks and maintaining order.' The challenges faced by the Coast Guard have undergone significant changes, from cracking down on smuggling and human trafficking to protecting undersea cables and critical infrastructure.
More importantly, she mentioned that the Coast Guard is facing maritime grey zone harassment. Under changing international situations, from peace-to-war transition to national security resilience, the Coast Guard always stands on the front line, not only undertaking law enforcement tasks but also guarding boundaries, sovereignty, and the daily life of the country's freedom and democracy.
The CGA stated via press release that the group awards include four categories: 'National Security and Maritime Order,' 'Lifesaving and Rescue,' 'Maintaining Fishing Rights and Ocean Conservation,' and 'Comprehensive Planning,' with 17 groups winning. Individual awards have four categories: 'National Security and Maritime Law Enforcement,' 'Crime Detection,' 'Disaster Rescue,' and 'Comprehensive Assessment,' with 17 individuals winning. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150428