Another Standoff in the Taiwan Strait... Taiwan President Appeals: "Directly Linked to Global Security"

Four Chinese Coast Guard Vessels Enter Taiwanese Waters on the 16th

A Chinese coast guard vessel intruded into the waters near Jinmen Island, Taiwan's frontline island, resulting in another standoff with the Taiwanese coast guard. Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan, emphasized that peace in the Taiwan Strait is directly linked to global security and appealed for a united response from the international community.

Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan. Yonhap News Agency

According to the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, four Chinese coast guard vessels entered the southern waters of Jinmen Island at around 2:50 p.m. on the 16th. The Taiwanese coast guard immediately dispatched patrol boats to monitor and block the vessels. They also issued warnings in both Chinese and English, demanding the vessels change course and leave the area.

According to the Taiwanese authorities, after a standoff lasting about two hours, the Chinese coast guard vessels moved outside the vicinity of Jinmen Island at 4:59 p.m.

In a statement, the Taiwan Coast Guard criticized, "With recent tensions in the Middle East putting pressure on the international crude oil supply chain and pushing global energy security into a state of alert, the formation sailing by Chinese coast guard vessels in this situation amounts to nothing more than a meaningless waste of fuel." The statement continued, "China should cease its intrusions and act responsibly for regional peace and stability," adding that Taiwan would "strengthen monitoring and response capabilities in the relevant waters to safeguard sovereignty and maritime security."

On the same day, at the opening ceremony of the Yushan Forum in Taipei, President Lai stated, "There is no freedom without unity," adding, "For about two years since my inauguration, Taiwan has been rallying the strength of democratic partners to protect against the threats posed by the expansion of authoritarianism, while also working together to promote global democracy, peace, and prosperity."

He further stressed, "Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential for global security and prosperity," and emphasized, "Taiwan will expand its partnerships, building on its foundation with the United States and global strategies, to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Indo-Pacific countries, and democracies around the world."

The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense announced that, during a 24-hour period starting at 6 a.m. on the 14th, 26 Chinese military aircraft operated in airspace near Taiwan, with 16 of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This Chinese military aircraft activity had resumed after a lull of about ten days. Taiwanese authorities remain highly alert to China's movements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.