TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on dark vessel detection systems Aug. 11, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部). The agreement aims to identify illegal fishing vessels and track China's covert maritime activities as part of Canada's broader Indo-Pacific strategy. The collaboration represents a significant expansion of security cooperation between the two nations despite their lack of formal diplomatic relations.
Chinese coast guard ships have increasingly operated in waters near the Pratas Islands (東沙) and Kinmen (金門), Taiwan's outlying territories. These vessels often disable their Automatic Identification Systems to conceal their movements from international monitoring. The dark vessel detection system will help combat these anonymous illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities that threaten regional maritime security.
Canada has been expanding its security cooperation with Taiwan despite lacking formal diplomatic relations through various strategic initiatives. Canada stationed a cyber expert in Taiwan last year to combat cyberattacks, particularly from China. Jim Nickel, Canada's representative, signed the agreement with Taiwan's representative, Harry Tseng Hou-jen (曾厚仁), before his reassignment as Canada's ambassador to Vietnam in early August.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (加拿大漁業及海洋部) announced on X that it will provide Taiwan with two years of training and platform access. Craig Macartney, a spokesperson, stated that the cooperation will help Taiwan strengthen its detection system, including its own vessel's activity in the sea. The partnership marks a concrete step in Canada's commitment to supporting Taiwan's maritime security capabilities. ◼