Were Taiwan’s defences punctured by mainland Chinese man in rubber dinghy?

Police say man claims to have sailed from Fujian province, seeking freedom and democracy – although coastguard suspects he got most of the way by fishing boat

Lawmaker says it shows the island is vulnerable to mainland infiltrators, while defence minister vows to address ‘shortcomings’

Reading Time:2 minutes

Zhou Xian says he sailed from Fujian province to Taiwan by rubber dinghy. Photo: Handout

Published: 5:54pm, 3 May 2021Updated: 9:57pm, 3 May 2021

Taiwanese lawmakers have questioned the effectiveness of the self-ruled island’s coastal defences after a man claimed to have sailed there undetected from mainland China in a rubber dinghy.

Police in Taiwan said Zhou Xian, 33, told them he had used a rubber dinghy with a motor to make an 11-hour crossing of the Taiwan Strait on Friday, setting off from the city of Shishi, in Fujian province on the mainland coast, and landing near Taichung harbour – a distance of 180km (112 miles).

“He said he was unhappy living in mainland China and wanted to seek freedom and democracy in Taiwan,” a police officer said on Monday.

The man was found in Taichung harbour and said he had made an 11-hour Taiwan Strait crossing by rubber dinghy. Photo: Handout

The officer said Zhou was found by local workers in Taichung harbour on Friday night, saying he was from the mainland and needed help.

According to the police, Zhou said he was not a fugitive and hoped to live in Taiwan and find work. He was kept in quarantine while police verified his story.

Lawmakers queried the Taiwanese coastguard’s possible failure to detect Zhou.