A new regulation implemented by the China Coast Guard last week would not affect Taiwan’s enforcement of law at sea, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on Wednesday.
The new regulation, which came into effect on Saturday last week, allows the China Coast Guard to board and hold vessels in waters it lays claim to, and question and detain foreign nationals found to have contravened its “exit and entry rules” for up to 60 days.
The China Coast Guard introduced the new regulation amid territorial disputes between Beijing and Manila near the Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙) in the South China Sea.
Photo: Chiu Chun-fu, Taipei Times
The Philippines has said that the China Coast Guard is attempting to bar its fishing vessels from accessing its fishing grounds in the area by deploying water cannons and using ramming tactics.
Meanwhile, China said the Philippines is ramming its vessels and that it has the right to legally patrol the disputed waters off the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島).
The new rule would not affect the CGA’s law enforcement, which is carried out in accordance with the Coast Guard Act (海岸巡防法) and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said at a news conference when asked about the matter.
China Coast Guard vessels have entered Taiwan-controlled “prohibited and restricted waters” near Kinmen County since the capsizing of an unnamed and unregistered Chinese speedboat on Feb. 14.
The vessel allegedly capsized after colliding with a CGA patrol vessel in waters near Kinmen while being pursued, leading to the deaths of two Chinese crew members.
China has since sent coast guard vessels into the Taiwan-controlled waters and said it has the legal right to patrol the disputed area.
Hsieh said that the CGA has put in place principles while responding to contingencies at sea, which include guidelines on communicating with the armed forces of Taiwan and friendly nations.
CGA personnel said there have been no instances of China Coast Guard vessels entering the prohibited and restricted waters off Kinmen this month.
However, Hsieh said an average of four China Coast Guard vessels were seen in waters near Kinmen every day in the first two weeks of this month.
The vessels were anchored in four zones around the Taiwan-controlled waters.
From February to last month, China Coast Guard fleets intruded into the prohibited and restricted waters near Kinmen on an average of five times a month, he said.
The CGA would vigorously defend the rights and interests of Taiwan’s fishing vessels and uphold national sovereignty and maritime safety, Hsieh added.
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