TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ocean Affairs Council said it has worked with other government agencies to establish an ocean radar observation network to enhance maritime rescue and monitoring in waters around Taiwan, CNA reported.
The National Academy of Marine Research, under the council, said the government is expanding maritime monitoring technologies in response to changing sea conditions and unidentified vessels in surrounding waters. The initiative includes installing radar stations at key coastal locations around Taiwan to enable continuous monitoring of ocean currents, wave conditions, and wind patterns.
The council said it has teamed up with the defense and transportation ministries to install 57 radar stations around Taiwan’s waters. It also plans to add up to eight more stations by 2028, expanding sea monitoring coverage to 210,000 square kilometers.
Compared with buoy- or ship-based observations, radar measurements offer wider coverage and can provide stable, high-resolution images, the council noted. It added that monitoring will be strengthened in waters southwest of the Taiwan Strait and around Pengjia Islet.
In addition to the network, the council said it will continue using AI technology to enhance maritime search and rescue and to model the potential spread of vessel oil spills.
The council added that the radar network can be integrated into the defense ministry’s electronic warfare system to monitor potential threats, relay maritime imagery, and support operations.
The council has begun replacing 22 aging radar monitoring systems around Taiwan’s waters. It said it is also integrating infrared equipment into the radar system, with completion expected by the end of next year. The system is designed to improve the detection of small targets in rough sea conditions and overcome limitations in night-time visibility.
In May 2025, two cases were reported in which Chinese used inflatable boats to avoid detection and landed in waters off Taoyuan and New Taipei. In response, the Coast Guard Administration requires vessels under 20 tonnes to install automatic identification systems and has expanded the use of AI in inspections.
