The presence of unmarked Chinese boats in waters around Kinmen County has stirred up a great deal of controversy. They are not marked with any name, number or home port, nor do they have any registration papers on board. These unidentified boats contravene China’s laws and pose a threat to the security of waters around Kinmen.
China ignores the boats’ infringement of its laws and that indulgent attitude has aroused concern in Taiwan and the international community. It also has double standards when it comes to how it treats unmarked boats.
On one hand, various areas in China are clamping down on unregistered boats, forbidding them from leaving the port and allowing authorities to confiscate and destroy the vessels. The Chinese Coast Guard’s office in Guangdong Province’s Zhuhai also announced a strict crackdown on illegal fishing.
Meanwhile, they turn a blind eye to the presence of such boats in waters between Kinmen and Xiamen, which has led to disorder and serious incidents.
On March 4, the Legislative Yuan’s Internal Administration Committee invited Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) and two other officials to present a report on the capsizing of a Chinese speed boat on Feb. 14, which led to the deaths of two crew members.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Jie (黃捷) pointed out that the vessel being unmarked and the crew did not have fishing licenses.
As this was like driving a car without a license, the coast guard must clamp down on such activity, she said.
The Coast Guard Administration strictly monitors and inspects unmarked boats and had good reason to attempt to do so with the vessel in Kinmen, Huang said, adding that Taiwanese coast guard personnel had not done anything wrong.
While the coast guard should improve whatever it needs to, be it equipment or their ships, until the incident is clarified by the judiciary, the Coast Guard Administration has no need to apologize, she said, adding that it must continue to steadfastly safeguard Taiwan’s fishing rights, governance and sovereignty.
The Chinese government’s indifference to unmarked boats and its use of “gray zone” tactics make the presence of Taiwan’s armed forces all the more important. They must uphold the nation’s territorial sovereignty and ensure the safety of citizens’ lives and property. Taiwan must firmly support its armed forces and bolster its national defense policy to ensure security and stability in its maritime territory.
China has politicized the issue of unmarked boats in an attempt to interfere in Taiwan’s internal affairs. This approach is not helping solve any practical problems and might actually heighten tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
We should therefore stay calm, handle these issues in an objective and rational manner and try to find solutions. Responding to China’s provocative behavior calmly and rationally would help ensure the security and stability of Taiwan’s maritime territory.
Gong Lin-dong is a research fellow who focuses on the Chinese Communist Party.
Translated by Julian Clegg
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