Kinmen: The illegal entry of a Chinese national into Kinmen, just before China's military exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, is under investigation by prosecutors as it could point to a new form of gray zone disruption, warned the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).

According to Focus Taiwan, the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch reported that at 6:49 a.m., its Kinmen personnel spotted a Chinese national attempting to illegally land in Kinmen using a rubber dinghy. This incident occurred shortly before the People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced its joint exercises around Taiwan at 7:30 a.m.

Local CGA personnel intercepted the individual and seized the vessel for investigation. Soon after, radar detected four China Coast Guard vessels in restricted waters near the Matsu Islands' Xiyin and Wuqiu islets around 8 a.m., prompting the CGA branch to dispatch four patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

Authorities are considering a potential link between the timing of the illegal entry and China's military exercises. Chen Tai-an, deputy chief of the Kinmen CGA group that apprehended the Chinese national, suggested in a recorded statement that the incident might be connected to the exercises or even part of them. The case is now with Kinmen prosecutors for further investigation.

The CGA statement emphasized China's use of hybrid tactics in its gray-zone operations and military exercises surrounding Taiwan, pledging to stay vigilant for further developments.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV, quoting PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Shi Yi, disclosed that the ongoing drills involve army, navy, air, and rocket forces converging on Taiwan from various directions. However, specific details regarding the duration or focus areas of the exercises were not provided.