Mystery Ship Intercepted: Taiwan Detains Unidentified Vessel in Restricted Waters

Coast Guard Takes Action After Unmarked Ship with Suspected Fuel Smuggling Attempts to Enter Taiwanese Territory

Taipei, Taiwan – In a significant maritime incident, the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has detained an unmarked vessel and its six crew members for illegally entering restricted waters. The incident, which took place on Sunday, highlights Taiwan's commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity.

The unidentified vessel, lacking any visible name, registered home port, or ship certificate, was first detected around 8:00 a.m. by the CGA's Hsinchu unit. The ship was spotted approximately 20 nautical miles northwest of Taoyuan's Yongan area. The CGA immediately dispatched a patrol boat to intercept the suspicious vessel, which had already ventured approximately three nautical miles inside Taiwanese restricted waters.

Upon inspection, the CGA discovered a significant quantity of fuel – approximately 500,000 liters – onboard. This discovery has led authorities to suspect the vessel's true mission: potentially refueling Chinese fishing vessels operating in the area.

The six crew members were believed to be Chinese nationals, though they were reportedly without any identification documents. The unmarked vessel and its entire crew were subsequently escorted to the Port of Taipei, where a more thorough investigation is underway.

This incident underscores the application of Taiwan's legal framework concerning cross-strait relations. Specifically, Article 32 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area grants Taiwanese authorities the power to take decisive action against vessels from mainland China that enter "restricted or prohibited waters" without proper authorization. This can include actions ranging from driving vessels away to seizure, detention of crew, and other necessary defensive measures.