China Coast Guard “Dark Ship” intrusions continue; another incursion into Kinmen Waters
After four China Coast Guard (CCG) ships turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) and intruded into Taiwan’s restricted waters around Kinmen at 3:00 PM yesterday (10th) and were expelled by Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA), another incursion occurred today.
At 14:45 on the 11th, CCG ships “14608,” “14527,” “14609,” and “14513” again turned off their AIS and formed a single-file formation.
They entered Taiwan’s restricted waters south of Dadan Island, Kinmen, sailing from west to east.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard dispatched four patrol boats to escort and expel them. The vessels exited the waters at 17:00.
The Kinmen–Matsu–Penghu Branch noted that China Coast Guard vessels have recently changed their previous pattern of entering with AIS activated, instead switching to dark-ship tactics to carry out harassment.
However, the Coast Guard has strengthened surveillance capabilities, effectively monitored maritime targets and pushed forward patrol deployment to identify such vessels and respond immediately.
TCGA stated that CCG vessels have harassed Kinmen waters 79 times so far, continuously employing Gray Zone Strategy against Taiwan and frequently using dark-ship methods to test Taiwan’s operational response.
TCGA states that will continue maintaining 24-hour high-intensity surveillance, response, and deployment capability, firmly defending national sovereignty and ensuring national security.