China’s oceanographic survey and research ships are collecting data in the Indo-Pacific region, possibly to better navigate the area with submarines, detect undersea cables or lay undersea mines, a New York Times article published yesterday said.
The article was titled “China Surveys Seabeds Where Naval Rivals May One Day Clash.”
Starboard Maritime Intelligence data revealed that Chinese research ships last year repeatedly scanned the ocean floor east of Taiwan’s maritime border and about 400km east and west of Guam; “waters that China’s navy considers strategically vital,” the article said.
Photo: CNA
Last year, six research ships made 25 passes in parallel lines through the waters off Taiwan’s east coast, the article said.
Ships frequently navigated close to Taiwan’s 12 nautical mile (22km) territorial sea boundary, but never crossed it, leaving Taipei unable to protest, it added.
Moreover, they moved in parallel lines and grid formations, “precise patterns that experts said suggested a methodical effort to collect information about the seabed,” it said.
The majority of China’s research ships are civilian, run by government agencies, universities and institutes, which attract less attention and scrutiny than naval vessels, the article said.
Under international law, civilian research ships are able to navigate through international waters and other countries’ exclusive economic zones with permission, it said.
However, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said: “it’s hard for us to view this situation as normal.”
The article noted the alarming scale of China’s operations, with the Xiang Yang Hong No. 6 (向陽紅06) having surveyed the seabed surrounding Guam over an area larger than the UK.
“The tracks are so tightly packed, and all this was done in one year. Clearly, they were doing a bathymetric survey,” said Sen Jan (詹森), a professor of oceanography at National Taiwan University.
Bathymetric surveys map the seabed using technology such as sonar.
The article suggested alternative uses for the voyages, including mineral exploration, studying marine life and assessing the impact of climate change, though it added that “the growing research fleet could give Beijing a powerful advantage in maritime competition with the United States.”
These research activities only “pave the way for submarine operations,” said Jennifer Parker, a former Australian naval officer who is now an expert associate at the National Security College of Australian National University.
Chinese experts in 2010 said that understanding the Kuroshio Current northeast of Taiwan would help China “better conceal ourselves and attack our enemies,” the article added.
The suspicious activities continue, it said, adding that just last month, the Xiang Yang Hong No. 1 (向陽紅01) and Xiang Yang Hong No.5 (向陽紅五號05) were observed moving in grid-like patterns to the east of Guam.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
RSS