🇹🇼🇨🇳 Taiwan Drives Out Mainland Trawler

Taiwan’s coast guard said a mainland Chinese fishing boat entered restricted waters near Dongsha Island on Oct. 1 and was driven out with water cannon after repeated radio warnings failed. The Yunlin patrol vessel found two mainland boats operating at anchor 27 nautical miles east of Dongsha; one departed after orders, while the other, Jingsha, remained in place.

After three unanswered broadcasts, the coast guard first fired water upward as a warning from about 200 meters, then moved closer and sprayed toward the wheelhouse for about 90 seconds while avoiding crew on deck. The boat later got underway, lost power during its exit, and was then guarded, given 35 hot meals, towed outside the restricted zone, and handed over early Oct. 2 to a mainland work vessel.

The incident comes amid increased mainland activity around Dongsha, where Taiwan has upgraded routine patrol and enforcement deployments, including larger coast guard vessels. It also follows another recent case in which Taiwan reported detaining a mainland fishing boat for crossing into its waters.

#Taiwan #China

@asianomics