The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday launched a crackdown on Chinese vessels intruding into waters off the islands of Kinmen, Matsu (
"The `bright sky' proposal is not only to enhance Taiwanese fishermen's rights and national security, but also to crack down on Chinese smuggling which might trigger a breakout of avian flu and other epidemics in Taiwan," a CGA press statement said yesterday.
"The CGA is sending most of its boats to patrol waters of Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu, and will expel Chinese exploration boats and fishing boats if they intrude into Taiwan's waters," the statement said.
PHOTO: LIN CHIA-TUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The CGA said that as of yesterday evening, it had expelled 37 Chinese fishing boats from the nation's waters, and detained three boats and six Chinese personnel as part of a smuggling investigating and found one illegal Chinese fishing boat.
The CGA said it has used radar to monitor Chinese vessels near the waters of the outlying islands, and also sent helicopters to inspect the area.
While the CGA is in charge of "bright sky," the Ministry of National Defense's (MND) vessels are monitoring the situation from a distance, and would support the mission if necessary, the agency said.
Taiwan's laws entitle the coast guard to patrol waters as far as 6km from the coast to keep Chinese vessels out.
The CGA also called on Chinese vessels not to intrude into Taiwan's waters.
The Liberty Times, the Taipei Times' sister newspaper, yesterday said President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen was concerned that rampant Chinese smuggling through the "small three links" -- the direct trade and transport links between Kinmen, Matsu and China -- and Chinese fishermen might trigger an outbreak of avian flu and other epidemics in Taiwan, the report said.
According to the Matsu fishing association, Chinese fishing vessels have been intruding into waters off Matsu more frequently recently.
The association said the Chinese fishermen had not only intruded into Taiwan's waters to fish, but also gone ashore to rest.
Last week, the CGA last week forced a Chinese research ship, the Fen Dou No.4 (
The CGA said Chinese research ships have intruded into waters south and north of Taiwan recently to conduct hydrographic research for its submarines.
Officials from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) have said intrusions and poaching by Chinese fishing boats and smuggling in waters near Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu remain widespread, even though Taiwan has asked China to improve the situation.
The MAC said that while the Chinese government has refused to negotiate with Taiwan on the issue, the government will not give up trying to communicate with Beijing in the spirit of mutual benefit and friendly cooperation.
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