TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A video released Thursday (May 23) showed a Taiwanese Coast Guard patrol ship drive away a Chinese warship from Taiwan's contiguous waters.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command Thursday announced that it would conduct the “Joint Sword-2024A” exercises around Taiwan and its outer islands. The Coast Guard dispatched seven ships and 16 patrol boats in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to monitor PLA activities, reported CNA.
Multiple confrontations between Chinese military vessels and Coast Guard ships in Taiwan's northern and eastern waters were reported. The Coast Guard ships navigated parallel with the Chinese warships and broadcast warnings to drive them away.
The Coast Guard said that at 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, the heavy patrol vessel Yilan was 44 km (24 NM) northwest of Pengjia Islet, which is 56 km northeast of Keelung, when it intercepted the Chinese frigate Yiyang (548). The Yilan sailed in parallel with the Yiyang and broadcast warnings not to enter Taiwan's contiguous zone (24 NM around Taiwan), after which the Chinese ship turned away.
In addition, two Coast Guard ships and two patrol boats encountered multiple Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in eastern Taiwan waters, resulting in similar standoff situations.
Meanwhile, two Chinese coast guard vessels intruded on Dongyin's restricted waters and were driven away by three Coast Guard patrol boats, reported New-Reporter.com. Two other Chinese coast guard ships entered Wuqiu's restricted waters and were expelled by two Coast Guard patrol boats.
A video released by the Coast Guard on Thursday showed Yilan's captain issuing the following warning to the Chinese frigate:
"Mainland China warship 548, this is the Yilan ship of the Republic of China Coast Guard Administration broadcasting. Your actions seriously undermine the peace, stability, and security of the Taiwan Strait region, increasing the risk of incidents and misjudgment. Please adjust your course immediately. If you insist on entering our 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, we will take expulsion actions."
The Coast Guard said it worked with the MND to monitor the PLA exercises around Taiwan. It added it remains highly vigilant, closely monitoring the situation, and is committed to firmly defending national sovereignty and security.
