February
1150209-China Coast Guard Harassment in Kinmen Waters , Feb 9, 2026
February 9, 2026-Mainland China Coast Guard Again Harasses Kinmen Waters Ahead of Lunar New Year; Taiwan Coast Guard Deploys in Advance and Firmly Expels Intruding Vessels
As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, harassment activities by the Mainland China Coast Guard (CCG) have shown no signs of abating. On the afternoon of the 9th, the 12th Patrol Area under the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch again detected four CCG vessels intruding into the Kinmen Restricted Area in formation.
In response to Mainland China’s disregard for regional peace and its attempt to disrupt maritime order through gray zone tactics during the year-end holiday period, TCGA immediately implemented the operational guidance of the “Lunar New Year Security Maintenance Plan.” Patrol boats were pre-deployed in advance to closely monitor the movements of the CCG vessels while conducting continuous interception and expulsion operations.
At approximately 14:00, the 12th Patrol Area detected four CCG vessels assembling in waters south of Kinmen. TCGA immediately dispatched pre-positioned patrol boats to move forward and respond.
At 14:50, four CCG vessels — 14529, 14603, 14609, and 14530 — entered the Kinmen Restricted Area in a two-by-two formation advancing from opposite directions, approaching from the east of Liaoluo and the south of Lieyu.
Four TCGA patrol boats immediately conducted one-on-one parallel monitoring, preventing the vessels from further advancing into Taiwan’s waters. During the operation, TCGA patrol boats issued radio warnings in Mandarin and English, demanding that the vessels alter course and depart immediately.
Under firm enforcement operations by TCGA patrol boats, the four CCG vessels eventually turned away and exited the Kinmen Restricted Area at 16:50.
TCGA stated that safeguarding national sovereignty and maritime rights is the Coast Guard’s fundamental responsibility and mission. In order to ensure security during the Lunar New Year period, TCGA has strengthened coastal-maritime joint defense operations, enhanced technological surveillance and reconnaissance, and maintained round-the-clock high-intensity deployment and response capabilities to counter potential gray zone harassment by Mainland China.
TCGA emphasized that it has both the confidence and capability to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and ensure maritime security, allowing the public to celebrate the Lunar New Year with peace of mind.
As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, harassment activities by the Mainland China Coast Guard (CCG) have shown no signs of abating. On the afternoon of the 9th, the 12th Patrol Area under the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch again detected four CCG vessels intruding into the Kinmen Restricted Area in formation.
In response to Mainland China’s disregard for regional peace and its attempt to disrupt maritime order through gray zone tactics during the year-end holiday period, TCGA immediately implemented the operational guidance of the “Lunar New Year Security Maintenance Plan.” Patrol boats were pre-deployed in advance to closely monitor the movements of the CCG vessels while conducting continuous interception and expulsion operations.
At approximately 14:00, the 12th Patrol Area detected four CCG vessels assembling in waters south of Kinmen. TCGA immediately dispatched pre-positioned patrol boats to move forward and respond.
At 14:50, four CCG vessels — 14529, 14603, 14609, and 14530 — entered the Kinmen Restricted Area in a two-by-two formation advancing from opposite directions, approaching from the east of Liaoluo and the south of Lieyu.
Four TCGA patrol boats immediately conducted one-on-one parallel monitoring, preventing the vessels from further advancing into Taiwan’s waters. During the operation, TCGA patrol boats issued radio warnings in Mandarin and English, demanding that the vessels alter course and depart immediately.
Under firm enforcement operations by TCGA patrol boats, the four CCG vessels eventually turned away and exited the Kinmen Restricted Area at 16:50.
TCGA stated that safeguarding national sovereignty and maritime rights is the Coast Guard’s fundamental responsibility and mission. In order to ensure security during the Lunar New Year period, TCGA has strengthened coastal-maritime joint defense operations, enhanced technological surveillance and reconnaissance, and maintained round-the-clock high-intensity deployment and response capabilities to counter potential gray zone harassment by Mainland China.
TCGA emphasized that it has both the confidence and capability to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and ensure maritime security, allowing the public to celebrate the Lunar New Year with peace of mind.
- Source: 海巡署
- Date: 2026/03/18
