Coast Guard Expels Chinese Fishing Boats from Taiwan Waters

Taipei:Dongsha Island The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) deployed a patrol vessel to expel two Chinese fishing boats from Taiwan's prohibited waters near Dongsha Island on Thursday.According to Focus Taiwan, the CGA's Dongsha-Nansha Branch identified an unidentified boat 15.5 nautical miles northeast of Dongsha Island, within Taiwan's prohibited waters. The 4,000-ton Yunlin patrol vessel was dispatched to investigate the vessel.Later in the afternoon, the patrol vessel encountered the Chinese fishing boats Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066 and Jin Sha operating 27 nautical miles east of Dongsha Island, within Taiwan's restricted waters. The CGA issued warnings for the boats to leave. While Yue Hui Dong Yu complied, Jin Sha refused, prompting the Yunlin patrol vessel to use a water cannon as per standard procedures.Despite initial resistance, the Yunlin patrol vessel provided 35 hot meals to the Jin Sha crew and towed the boat out of restricted waters, handing it over to a Chinese work vessel. The CGA reiterated i ts commitment to enforcing maritime borders and called on China to prevent illegal fishing activities.Dongsha Island, situated 450 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung, is one of two island groups controlled by Taiwan in the South China Sea, with Taiping Island being the other.