CGA expels Chinese boats near Pratas

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday said it expelled two Chinese fishing boats that had entered Taiwan’s prohibited waters near Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島).

At about 11am on Thursday, an unidentified boat was detected about 15.5 nautical miles northeast of Pratas Island, or 5.5 nautical miles inside Taiwan’s prohibited waters, it said.

The Yunlin patrol vessel was dispatched to the area, and at about 3pm, it found two Chinese fishing boats — the Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066 (粵惠東漁75066) and the Jin Sha (金鯊) — about 27 nautical miles east of Pratas Island, or 8 nautical miles inside restricted waters, the CGA said.

The Yunlin repeatedly issued warnings to the boats and asked them to leave, it said.

The Yue Hui Dong Yu sailed away, but the Jin Sha refused to leave, the CGA said.

After three unsuccessful attempts to get the Jin Sha to leave, the coast guard used its water cannon for 30 seconds about 200m away from the Chinese vessel — in line with the law — but that, too, proved ineffective, it said.

The Yunlin then gradually approached the Jin Sha and sprayed water at it for 90 seconds, the agency added.

The decision to use low-lethality weaponry to drive the boats away from Taiwan-controlled waters was in line with CGA standard operating procedures, it said.

The Yunlin later provided 35 hot meals to the Jin Sha ’s crew members at the Chinese boat’s request, towed it out of restricted waters and handed it over to a Chinese work vessel early yesterday morning, the CGA said.

The agency said it is committed to lawfully driving away vessels that have crossed into its borders, and that its mission to safeguard national maritime borders and carry out humanitarian assistance remains unchanged.

The CGA also urged China to prevent further illegal fishing activities in the area and to protect marine resources.

Dongsha, which is about 450km southwest of Kaohsiung and where about 300 CGA personnel are stationed, is one of two island groups controlled by Taiwan in the South China Sea.

The other is Itu Aba (Taiping Island, 太平島) which is about 1,600km southwest of Kaohsiung. About 200 coast guard personnel are stationed there.

The CGA defines “prohibited waters” as territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles around Taiwan proper and varying distances around Taiwan’s outlying islands.

“Restricted waters” refer to a contiguous zone, which states use to bolster their law enforcement capacity in areas just outside their territorial seas.

That contiguous zone extends 24 nautical miles around Taiwan proper, and varying distances around the nation’s outlying islands.

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