China Coast Guard Again Breaches Kinmen Waters Ahead of Lunar New Year; ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Responds with Firm Enforcement

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) continues to safeguard national maritime sovereignty. At approximately 07:00 this morning, Patrol Area Office 12 of TCGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch (KMP Branch) detected four Mainland China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels appearing simultaneously south of Kinmen. TCGA immediately deployed on-duty Patrol Boats to the outer boundary of Taiwan’s Restricted Area for close-range monitoring and response.
At 07:50, CCG vessels 14509, 14608, 14609, and 14605 breached Taiwan’s Restricted Area from four directions off the southern coast of Jhuishan. They subsequently formed two dual-ship formations while maneuvering within the area. In response, four pre-positioned TCGA Patrol Boats moved swiftly to intercept and block the vessels from further encroachment. TCGA assets conducted radio warnings in Mandarin and English, performed parallel shadowing maneuvers, and documented the entire event. The CCG vessels entered Taiwan’s waters twice during the incident and were ultimately expelled by TCGA assets, exiting the Restricted Area by 12:00 noon.
TCGA emphasized that, despite the coming of the Lunar New Year, Mainland China Coast Guard vessels continue to intrude into Kinmen waters. This marks the 56th such incursion since 2024. TCGA remains on high alert with round-the-clock operations, firmly upholding national sovereignty and ensuring maritime security so that the public may enjoy a peaceful and safe holiday season.