The government has staged a joint military-Coast Guard Administration (CGA) protection and rescue exercise in an area where China’s controversial air defense identification zone overlaps with those of Taiwan and Japan in the East China Sea.
The multipurpose drill on Monday last week was seen as an indication that Taiwan is pursuing its own national interests, despite China’s announcement in November last year of a new air defense identification zone that heightened tensions in the region.
The vessels and aircraft involved in the drill moved north toward the nation’s “provisional law enforcement boundary” 270 nautical miles (500km) off the northern tip of Taiwan.
They crossed the air defense identification zones of both China and Japan and moved toward China’s Chunxiao gas field, which is located within the enforcement boundary.
Two coast guard patrol vessels, the Hsin Bei and the Ho-shin, were joined by the navy’s Kang Ding frigate off Keelung and first headed toward Pengchia Islet, about 30 nautical miles away.
Once there, they conducted simulated firings of 20mm and 40mm guns.
They were then joined by an air force S-70C helicopter, which cooperated with the Hsin Bei in a drill simulating the rescue of people from the sea.
As the ships headed further north, they were joined by an S-2T marine patrol aircraft and two F-16 fighter jets, which flew over the Hsin Bei and Kang Ding at an altitude of 152m in an identification and communication drill.
When the vessels and the aircraft reached the northernmost line of the nation’s air defense identification zone, about 133 nautical miles north of Keelung, the Kang Ding and the Feng Yang — another navy frigate — remained to stand guard while the Hsin Bei and the Ho-shin continued north on a patrol mission to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating nearby.
At 6am the next day, the two coast guard vessels were passing near the Chunxiao gas fields and approaching the 270 nautical mile boundary when they encountered a Japan Coast Guard patrol boat, the 1,000 tonne PL-120 Kurisaki.
There was a tense moment when the crew aboard the Japanese ship tried to observe the Ho-shin at a short distance, and the crew on the Ho-shin did the same to the Kurisaki, bringing the two vessels within 0.5 nautical miles of each other at 6:12am.
However, the Japan Coast Guard patrol boat then sailed off.
At 6:20am, the coast guard ships conducted a series of checks and patrols around wellheads in the Chunxiao gas field, drawing the attention of China’s Hai Yang Shi You 603 tug and supply ship.
The Chinese ship made radio contact with the Hsin Bei, which responded by explaining that the coast guard was carrying out its mission to protect its fishermen.
The Chinese tug did not try to gather information on the Hsin Bei, instead anchoring quite a distance away.
As the Taiwanese vessels began their voyage back to Taiwan on Tuesday last week, Japan sent several SH-60K choppers and P-3C surveillance aircraft to monitor the Hsin Bei and the Ho-shin at low altitude before flying away.
The two coast guard vessels were then escorted home by navy ships that had been on standby, returning to Keelung at 6am on Wednesday last week.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS