The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday said it would reward people who report the presence of foreign military ships, including those from China, in waters around the nation, as it seeks the public’s help with monitoring “abnormal” activity.
China regularly deploys fighter jets, navy ships and coast guard vessels around Taiwan.
“The coast guard’s personnel are limited, but the people power at sea is unlimited,” the CGA said in a statement announcing the rewards.
Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, REUTERS
The coast guard called on people, including fishers, to “stay vigilant to abnormal maritime activities” to help counter the growing “threats from the sea” and “all kinds of gray zone harassment tactics” — actions that fall short of an act of war.
People who report homicide, piracy, arson or kidnapping to the coast guard could receive up to NT$200,000, while reports of Chinese “stowaways” would be rewarded with NT$50,000 and NT$10,000 for other foreign stowaways.
Verified reports to the coast guard about foreign military ships and other vessels would be rewarded with NT$3,000, it said.
China maintains a near-daily presence of naval vessels and warplanes around Taiwan.
China Coast Guard ships have also been spotted around Taiwan’s outlying islands, at times briefly entering its restricted waters.
Meanwhile, government announcements said test rocket launches are scheduled for this month in Pingtung County.
Feng Chia University plans to conduct a test launch of a small research rocket tomorrow in Mudan Township (牡丹), with the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) also scheduling test launches between Thursday next week and Nov. 21.
The university’s rocket launch is set for 6am to 8am, with backup dates scheduled for Monday or Sunday next week at the same time.
The NCSIST launch is scheduled for Thursday next week, as well as on Nov. 19, 20 and 21 at the Jiupeng military base in Manjhou Township (滿州).
Several NCSIST launches have been canceled for reasons such as bad weather or due to Chinese intelligence vessels patrolling the waters near the base.
To avoid espionage, the NCSIST has shifted its launch times and requested military assistance to remove Chinese vessels.
Additional reporting by Lo Tien-pin
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS