TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard on Friday said it detained a Chinese man in Kinmen waters.
At 10:20 a.m., a Coast Guard patrol boat spotted the man 0.7 nautical miles (1.3 km) northwest of Dadan Island, per CNA. He attempted to swim to the island using a lifesaver, but was detained by Coast Guard officers and taken to Liaoluo Port for questioning.
The Coast Guard said the case has been referred to the Kinmen District Prosecutors' Office and will be investigated under the Immigration Act, the Cross-Strait Act, and the Vital Area Regulations. The suspect faces detention, up to five years in prison, and a fine of up to NT$500,000 (US$16,600).
Officials pointed out that Dadan Island is only 4.4 km from Xiamen, China, leaving little reaction time due to the island's shallow depth and proximity. The Coast Guard said it has integrated land- and sea-based surveillance efforts and continuously monitors the movements of Chinese maritime patrol vessels and small crafts to deter increasingly frequent gray zone incursions.
The Coast Guard said it does not rule out the possibility that the CCP is again using an illegal border crossing as a form of cognitive warfare. It said such tactics aim to disrupt public morale at minimal cost.
The Coast Guard said it will continue strengthening coastal and maritime patrols. It will also seek increased funding to acquire more advanced surveillance technologies.
Friday's incident marks the fourth illegal crossing from China into Taiwan's waters in a week by Chinese men on small boats and flotation devices. A father and son were apprehended last Friday after they landed on a beach in Taoyuan in a small, inflatable boat.
On Sunday, a Chinese man claimed that he crossed the Taiwan Strait in a rubber boat to plant a Chinese flag on a Taoyuan beach before returning to Fujian Province. Two Chinese men on styrofoam floats were detained on Tuesday.
