TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel Hsun Hu No. 7 set sail on its second patrol mission of the year Monday.
The vessel returned to Kaohsiung Port on July 20 after completing a 60-day high seas patrol, Liberty Times reported. After about two weeks of resupply and maintenance, it departed again.
The Coast Guard Administration has coordinated with Fisheries Agency policy to carry out two to three routine high seas patrol missions each year since 2000, according to the Ocean Affairs Council. The missions aim to maintain fishery resources and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Ocean Affairs Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said high seas patrol missions serve multiple purposes, including international cooperation, humanitarian assistance, marine conservation, and maritime security. She said each inspection or scientific sampling operation provides crucial evidence for maritime and seafood safety and creates opportunities to deepen cooperation with partner countries.
Last Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan published a Facebook post highlighting cooperation between Taiwan and US coast guards in search and rescue, disaster relief, and countering illegal fishing and drug shipments. AIT said the US “appreciates Taiwan’s partnership in maritime security and safety, and supports Taiwan’s meaningful contributions on global issues including maritime law enforcement exchange and international cooperation.”
In response, Kuan said AIT’s message “carries significant meaning” given China’s harassment tactics aimed at undermining the rules-based international order and regional stability. She added that the post also reaffirmed US recognition of the Coast Guard Administration as “the sole law enforcement authority” and only partner for maritime law enforcement cooperation in Taiwan’s waters.
