March
China Research Vessel “Yanping No. 2” Attempts Subsea Survey near Dongding Islet
Mainland Chinese Research Vessel “Yanping No. 2” Attempts Subsea Survey near Dongding Islet, Swiftly Expelled by ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Administration
At 13:01 on March 12, the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch (KMP Branch) of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) detected, via radar, the Chinese official vessel “Yanping No. 2” intruding Taiwan’s Restricted Area of Kinmen at 2.6 nautical miles northwest of Dongding Islet. In response, TCGA Patrol Boat PP-3552 and PP-3520 were dispatched immediately to intercept and issue warnings.
At 15:00, while executing the expulsion, PP-3520 observed the vessel deploying subsea equipment, strongly suggesting unauthorized underwater survey operations. The Patrol Boat issued stern radio warnings and demanded “Yanping No.2” to immediate retrieve their device. “Yanping No. 2” acknowledged the order and recovered the equipment. By 15:52, both Patrol Boats had successfully expelled the vessel to 3 nautical miles southeast of Dongding, beyond the Restricted Area, where it proceeded to navigate outward.
TCGA emphasized that the incursion was not purely scientific in nature. It strongly suspects the operation involved covert strategic reconnaissance under the disguise of marine research—potentially mapping seabed geology, topography, and hydrology as preparatory data for future military deployments.
TCGA issued a stern condemnation of Mainland China’s use of state-sponsored “research” and survey vessels as tools of grey-zone harassment in Taiwan waters. TCGA reaffirmed its unwavering readiness to monitor and intercept all such incursions, maintaining round-the-clock patrols and decisive law enforcement to defend national sovereignty and maritime rights.
At 13:01 on March 12, the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch (KMP Branch) of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) detected, via radar, the Chinese official vessel “Yanping No. 2” intruding Taiwan’s Restricted Area of Kinmen at 2.6 nautical miles northwest of Dongding Islet. In response, TCGA Patrol Boat PP-3552 and PP-3520 were dispatched immediately to intercept and issue warnings.
At 15:00, while executing the expulsion, PP-3520 observed the vessel deploying subsea equipment, strongly suggesting unauthorized underwater survey operations. The Patrol Boat issued stern radio warnings and demanded “Yanping No.2” to immediate retrieve their device. “Yanping No. 2” acknowledged the order and recovered the equipment. By 15:52, both Patrol Boats had successfully expelled the vessel to 3 nautical miles southeast of Dongding, beyond the Restricted Area, where it proceeded to navigate outward.
TCGA emphasized that the incursion was not purely scientific in nature. It strongly suspects the operation involved covert strategic reconnaissance under the disguise of marine research—potentially mapping seabed geology, topography, and hydrology as preparatory data for future military deployments.
TCGA issued a stern condemnation of Mainland China’s use of state-sponsored “research” and survey vessels as tools of grey-zone harassment in Taiwan waters. TCGA reaffirmed its unwavering readiness to monitor and intercept all such incursions, maintaining round-the-clock patrols and decisive law enforcement to defend national sovereignty and maritime rights.
- Source: 海巡署
- Date: 2026/02/05
