A Chinese national was arrested by Taiwan’s coast guard on Tuesday for attempting to illegally enter one of Taiwan’s outlying islands amid large-scale military drills conducted by Beijing.
The incident occurred just before 7:00 AM (2300 GMT, April 1), when the man was found off the Kinmen islands, which are controlled by Taipei but located near China’s mainland. The coast guard said in a statement that the man, who was aboard a rubber boat, was attempting to enter the Kinmen archipelago illegally. He was apprehended at 6:49 AM and taken for questioning. Following this, he was to be handed over to Taiwanese prosecutors for further investigation.
Shortly after the arrest, four Chinese Coast Guard vessels were reported in waters surrounding Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands, specifically near Xiyin and Wuqiu. The Taiwan Coast Guard speculated that these activities might be related to China’s ongoing military exercises, which they described as a form of “grey-zone harassment” or military drills.
China’s latest military maneuvers come just days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed America’s commitment to maintaining credible deterrence in the Taiwan Strait. The exercises, according to Beijing, are aimed at conducting “precision strikes” and simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island while sending a stern warning to Taiwanese separatists.
Taiwan has long been a point of contention between the two nations, with China considering the island a part of its territory and threatening military action to bring it under control.
AFP
