The alleged defector who piloted a motorboat across the Taiwan Strait to a harbor near Taipei on Sunday previously served as a captain in the Chinese navy, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said on Tuesday.
The man was spotted by coast guard personnel while driving a motorboat 6 nautical miles (11km) off the coast of Tamsui District (淡水).
He then entered the Tamsui River and entered the ferry terminal, colliding with other vessels docked there.
Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Administration via CNA
Coast guard officers were dispatched to detain the man and confiscate his Chinese-registered boat.
The man has not been clear about his intention in coming to Taiwan, but based on the 18 similar cases from the past year, “we cannot rule out the possibility that it is a test,” Kuan told reporters before a session at the legislature on Tuesday.
“Their statements are often the same; they say they are seeking freedom and long for the free lifestyle enjoyed in Taiwan,” Kuan added.
The difference in this case is that the alleged defector was relatively composed and well-dressed, and has a history of service in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy as a captain, she said.
More than half of the recent cases were intercepted by authorities, but the rest were only discovered after they were reported by citizens, Kuan said.
In this case, the coast guard personnel responsible for monitoring the area lapsed in their vigilance and would be penalized, she said, adding that there was no problem with their equipment.
Authorities misjudged the radar, as it only provides a point of light and no image, she said, suggesting further technological advances to reduce the chance of misjudgements.
Based on its approach, officers believed it was a Taiwanese fishing boat returning to shore and notified the watch post to monitor and identify the vessel, she said.
However, since there were too many boats in the water, the watch post said it could not identify it, she said.
After it identified the boat as a non-Taiwanese vessel, officers allowed another 30 minutes to pass before reporting it, Kuan added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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