Taoyuan: Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Friday apprehended two Chinese nationals, a father and son, attempting to illegally enter Taiwan via a 3.3-meter rubber boat, which landed at Guanyin Beach in Taoyuan, according to Taipei Times.
The 41-year-old father, identified by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office as Mr. Song, has been detained on charges of illegal entry. His 17-year-old son was not detained due to his age and was transferred to the National Immigration Agency’s Special Operations Brigade.
Song allegedly claimed he fled China seeking “freedom” due to political persecution, though Taiwanese authorities have not yet verified his motivations.
Security and Surveillance Concerns
The CGA noted that the small size of the boat made it difficult to detect by radar, raising alarm over potential “gray zone intrusions” by China. These are covert or ambiguous tactics that fall below the threshold of traditional military conflict.
Since January, five smuggling cases involving 38 individuals have been recorded, further intensifying Taiwan’s national security concerns.
To counter these incursions, the CGA is actively seeking funds to:
- Install coastal monitoring systems, including thermal imaging cameras
- Expand patrol ship capacity
- Improve stereoscopic surveillance technology
Regional Military Context
This incident follows recent Chinese military exercises near Taiwan and reports of “gray zone” tactics, including legal warfare and hybrid threats. CGA Deputy Director General Hsieh Ching-chin also revealed on Thursday that Taiwan has been in discussions with unnamed countries to hold joint humanitarian drills in the Taiwan Strait, aimed at enhancing readiness and deterring covert threats.