Taiwan Coast Guard Expels Chinese Fishing Boats Near Dongsha Island

The Coast Guard Administration of Taiwan expelled two Chinese fishing boats, the Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066 and the Jin Sha, from prohibited and restricted waters near Dongsha Island on Thursday. The encounter began at 11 a.m. after the agency detected an unidentified boat 5.5 nautical miles inside prohibited waters. The CGA dispatched the 4,000-ton patrol vessel Yunlin to intercept the vessels.

While the Yue Hui Dong Yu complied with warnings and sailed away, the Jin Sha refused to leave. The Yunlin deployed water cannons in two stages, first spraying water into the air for 30 seconds as a warning from 200 meters away, and then directing the cannon at the vessel's wheelhouse for approximately 90 seconds. The incident occurred roughly 27 nautical miles east of the island in the South China Sea.

Following the expulsion, the CGA provided 35 hot meals to the crew of the Jin Sha upon request. The patrol vessel then towed the boat out of restricted waters and handed it over to a Chinese work vessel on Friday morning. The CGA urged the government of China to prevent illegal fishing and protect marine resources, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding national maritime borders.