TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (海巡署), the maritime law enforcement agency, repelled three Chinese Coast Guard ships that entered restricted waters off Kinmen, a Taiwan-controlled island, on Thursday (Dec. 25). The intrusion unfolded in challenging sea conditions, marking another escalation in ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China over maritime boundaries. Kinmen sits only 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Chinese city of Xiamen.
Chinese Coast Guard ships 14605, 14606, and 14609 navigated from the southern waters of Dadan Island (大膽) into Kinmen's restricted area at 3 p.m. Thursday, according to a press release. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration dispatched three patrol boats to monitor the situation, employing a "one-on-one" shadowing strategy. Each Taiwanese vessel tracked one Chinese ship.
Through bilingual radio broadcasts, Taiwan's Coast Guard informed the Chinese vessels that their actions threatened regional peace and stability, demanding an immediate course reversal. By 4:12 p.m., the Chinese fleet exited Kinmen's restricted waters. The intrusion lasted approximately one hour and 12 minutes.
The Coast Guard Administration condemned the Chinese ships' insistence on breaching the restricted zone amid adverse sea conditions, labeling the maneuver unprofessional and irrational. The administration emphasized that such actions disregard navigational safety and unnecessarily escalate regional tensions. The administration pledged to maintain high-intensity monitoring and response capabilities around the clock, ensuring the security of Taiwan's maritime borders. ◼