Mainland China boat slip puts ‘negligent’ Taiwan coastguard on notice: analysts

Breach of crucial Tamsui River leading directly to downtown Taipei exposes serious problems in the island’s defences, with navy also to blame

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A Taiwanese coastguard official indicates to members of the media where the mainland Chinese speedboat entered the Taipei harbour. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00am, 15 Jun 2024

The Taiwanese coastguard needs to shift its mindset and prioritise vigilance against military infiltration, analysts said as the island wrestles with the implications of last weekend’s arrival of a mainland Chinese speedboat at a pier outside Taipei.

The boat’s occupant – who claimed to be an ex-PLA Navy captain – passed at least three coastguard security lookout posts in broad daylight before arriving at the pier in Tamsui district, mere kilometres from the Taiwanese leader’s office.

Observers said the incident was a challenge to the island’s ability to uphold its coastal defences in the face of potential aggression from Beijing. It also underscored the need to enhance Taiwan’s maritime surveillance systems, they added.

The 60-year-old man, identified by his last name Ruan, told authorities that he left the port city of Ningde in Fuzhou province last Saturday, sailing around 250km (155 miles) in 15 hours before he was apprehended at around 11am the next day.

Lawmakers raised grave concerns that the man – who claimed to be an ex-naval captain who left the mainland because he had displeased Beijing – had been able to enter the strategically crucial Tamsui River, which leads directly to downtown Taipei.

Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai apologised to the public for the coastguard’s negligence and promised improvements.