Following a forceful expulsion by the ROC Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) Patrol Boats in the afternoon of December 30, four Mainland Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were detected continuously loitering just outside Taiwan’s Restricted Area south of Kinmen and conducted formation training maneuvers throughout the night. TCGA Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch (KMP Branch) maintained seamless monitoring of their movements.
At approximately 08:00 on December 31, the exact four CCG ships—hull numbers 14608, 14604, 14603, and 14607—regathered near Taiwan’s Restricted Area. Patrol District Office 12 promptly dispatched four pre-positioned Patrol Boats to the boundary in anticipation of a repeated incursion.
By 09:00, the four CCG vessels split into two groups and entered Taiwan’s Prohibited Areafrom the southern part of Jhuishan and Liaoluo. TCGA Patrol Boats executed immediate, close-range interception maneuvers, issued radio warnings in Mandarin and English, and conducted continuous surveillance and evidence documentation. By 11:00, the CCG vessels exited Taiwan’s Restricted Areas under firm pressure.
After analyzing the CCG vessels’ post-operation movements, TCGA had detected CCG’s abnormal actions and remained on high alert. As anticipated, the exact four vessels re-entered Taiwan’s Restricted Area from the southeast of Liaoluo at approximately 15:00. Despite deteriorating sea conditions, TCGA vessels held their positions, issued repeated stern warnings, and ultimately expelled the CCG vessels, which withdrew by 17:00.
TCGA emphasized that this marks the 52nd CCG incursion into Kinmen waters since February. The incursions that continued into the last day of 2024,with two separate violations within a single day, represents the Mainland China’s persistent gray-zone pressure tactics.
TCGA reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a firm law enforcement posture, resolutely defending national sovereignty, and ensuring maritime safety and order.