March
1140318-China Coast Guard Harassment in Dongsha Waters ,Mar 18, 2025
Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Expels Mainland Chinese Coast Guard and Fishing Vessels in Dongsha Waters to Safeguard National Sovereignty and Marine Resources
In response to media inquiries regarding a fake news post circulating on Mainland Chinese social media titled "Intense Standoff at Dongsha Islands! PRC Coast Guard Circles and Closes In, Taiwan Authorities ‘Ashamed’", the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) clarified today (Mar. 18) that this post is a disinformation. Its likely intent is to distract from the recent interdiction of illegal Chinese fishing operations, during which a Mainland China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel attempted but failed to interfere.
The ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) recently detected multiple Mainland Chinese fishing vessels entering Dongsha (Pratas) Atoll waters, deploying small boats to illegally harvest within the atoll. In response, TCGA launched a Dongsha Enforcement Operation on February 26, deploying Cutter Kaohsiung , Patrol Vessels Hsun Hu No. 7 and 9, Patrol Boats PP-10075, PP-10096, and a CP-class Patrol Boat—a total of 1 Cutter, 2 Patrol Vessels, and 3 Patrol Boats—resulting in the seizure of 5 Mainland Chinese intruding small boats. On March 11, an additional Mainland Chinese vessel was seized, despite interference attempts by CCG vessels, all of which were successfully repelled beyond Taiwan’s Restricted Area.
At 14:40 on March 12, Cutter Taitung detected three Mainland Chinese fishing vessels—Yue Maobin 41177, Yue Maoming 00898, and Yue Huilai 00859—operating 20.5 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha Island, within Taiwan’s Restricted Area. TCGA immediately dispatched Cutter Taitung and Taichung, another pre-positioned assets in the area, to expel them. By 16:50, all three were driven 27.8 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha, continuing to exit the Restricted Area.
During this expulsion, at 15:15, CCG Vessel 3101 entered Taiwan’s Restricted Area 21.7 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha, allegedly attempting to board Yue Maobin 41177. Under TCGA’s expulsion, the fishing vessel halted in compliance with the PRC vessel, while TCGA Cutter Taitung and Taichung issued firm radio demands to all Mainland Chinese vessels to vacate Taiwan’s waters. By 15:22, the vessels began retreating, with CCG officers still aboard the fishing vessel. At 16:50, the TCGA Cutters expelled the vessels to 27.8 nautical miles from Dongsha, heading 275° at 9 knots.
After March 12, no further Mainland Chinese fishing boats were detected in the Dongsha area. However, two CCG vessels remained near the Restricted Area in apparent harassment. CG 3101 loitered southwest after circling the island, and was repelled by Cutter Yunlin on March 12. CG 3304 was driven out by Cutter Taitung at 13:00 on March 16.
TCGA asserts that Mainland China’s attempt to board an intercepted fishing boat within Taiwan’s Restricted Area may represent retaliation for prior law enforcement actions. It also does not rule out the use of fishing vessels for strategic probing of Taiwan’s Dongsha patrol patterns, coordinated with “grey zone” interference by CCG vessels to fabricate a false narrative of enforcement.
TCGA condemns such actions, which escalate cross-strait tensions and undermine regional peace and stability. It reiterates its unwavering commitment to law enforcement and sovereignty safeguarding, and will maintain 24/7 maritime vigilance to closely monitor all Mainland Chinese vessels’ activities. Any further incursions will be resolutely intercepted and expelled, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and maritime rights in the Dongsha region.
In response to media inquiries regarding a fake news post circulating on Mainland Chinese social media titled "Intense Standoff at Dongsha Islands! PRC Coast Guard Circles and Closes In, Taiwan Authorities ‘Ashamed’", the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) clarified today (Mar. 18) that this post is a disinformation. Its likely intent is to distract from the recent interdiction of illegal Chinese fishing operations, during which a Mainland China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel attempted but failed to interfere.
The ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) recently detected multiple Mainland Chinese fishing vessels entering Dongsha (Pratas) Atoll waters, deploying small boats to illegally harvest within the atoll. In response, TCGA launched a Dongsha Enforcement Operation on February 26, deploying Cutter Kaohsiung , Patrol Vessels Hsun Hu No. 7 and 9, Patrol Boats PP-10075, PP-10096, and a CP-class Patrol Boat—a total of 1 Cutter, 2 Patrol Vessels, and 3 Patrol Boats—resulting in the seizure of 5 Mainland Chinese intruding small boats. On March 11, an additional Mainland Chinese vessel was seized, despite interference attempts by CCG vessels, all of which were successfully repelled beyond Taiwan’s Restricted Area.
At 14:40 on March 12, Cutter Taitung detected three Mainland Chinese fishing vessels—Yue Maobin 41177, Yue Maoming 00898, and Yue Huilai 00859—operating 20.5 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha Island, within Taiwan’s Restricted Area. TCGA immediately dispatched Cutter Taitung and Taichung, another pre-positioned assets in the area, to expel them. By 16:50, all three were driven 27.8 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha, continuing to exit the Restricted Area.
During this expulsion, at 15:15, CCG Vessel 3101 entered Taiwan’s Restricted Area 21.7 nautical miles southwest of Dongsha, allegedly attempting to board Yue Maobin 41177. Under TCGA’s expulsion, the fishing vessel halted in compliance with the PRC vessel, while TCGA Cutter Taitung and Taichung issued firm radio demands to all Mainland Chinese vessels to vacate Taiwan’s waters. By 15:22, the vessels began retreating, with CCG officers still aboard the fishing vessel. At 16:50, the TCGA Cutters expelled the vessels to 27.8 nautical miles from Dongsha, heading 275° at 9 knots.
After March 12, no further Mainland Chinese fishing boats were detected in the Dongsha area. However, two CCG vessels remained near the Restricted Area in apparent harassment. CG 3101 loitered southwest after circling the island, and was repelled by Cutter Yunlin on March 12. CG 3304 was driven out by Cutter Taitung at 13:00 on March 16.
TCGA asserts that Mainland China’s attempt to board an intercepted fishing boat within Taiwan’s Restricted Area may represent retaliation for prior law enforcement actions. It also does not rule out the use of fishing vessels for strategic probing of Taiwan’s Dongsha patrol patterns, coordinated with “grey zone” interference by CCG vessels to fabricate a false narrative of enforcement.
TCGA condemns such actions, which escalate cross-strait tensions and undermine regional peace and stability. It reiterates its unwavering commitment to law enforcement and sovereignty safeguarding, and will maintain 24/7 maritime vigilance to closely monitor all Mainland Chinese vessels’ activities. Any further incursions will be resolutely intercepted and expelled, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and maritime rights in the Dongsha region.
- Source: 海巡署
- Date: 2026/04/15
