Some illegal entries by Chinese citizens into Taiwan coincided with Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) combat readiness drills and targeted military exercises, raising the possibility that they were part of Beijing’s maritime “gray zone” activities in the Taiwan Strait aimed at testing Taiwan’s coastal defense response capabilities, the National Security Bureau said in a report.
The report was sent to the legislature ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow.
Chinese nationals have been carrying out incursions into Taiwan proper and its outlying islands in a range of forms, the report said, adding that a review of cases in outlying areas showed that most involved unpowered or small craft, while incidents in Taiwan proper were typically carried out using small motorboats.
Photo copied by Chiu Chun-fu, Taipei Times
Beijing is systematically leveraging its media platforms to circulate short videos that question how Taiwanese authorities handle cases of illegal entry and suggesting weaknesses in maritime surveillance, the report said.
The moves are part of a broader cognitive warfare effort, it said.
An analysis of the incursions showed that Chinese nationals can easily purchase small boats and outboard motors through online platforms such as Taobao, with the speed of the craft sufficient to evade coastal radar detection, it said.
Most suspects originate from coastal provinces in China, including Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, it said, adding that they often say that they are “seeking democracy and freedom” or “applying for political asylum” to mask their true intent.
Targets are not limited to outlying islands such as Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, it said, adding that in Taiwan proper, incidents have been concentrated in coastal areas of Miaoli County, Taoyuan and New Taipei City’s Linkou (林口) and Tamsui (淡水) districts.
Seasonal and environmental factors play a key role in incursion attempts, the report said.
From April to August, when sea conditions around Taiwan are relatively stable, small vessels can navigate more easily, making it the peak period, it said.
After September, the arrival of the northeast monsoon leads to a noticeable decline in incidents, it added.
Small vessels are difficult to detect, often evading coastal radar, it said.
With minimal draft requirements, they do not need to dock at formal ports and can instead approach via rocky shorelines or the edge of breakwaters, using high tide to come ashore, it added.
The bureau would step up intelligence collection and response efforts by improving maritime intelligence gathering through dedicated platforms and by establishing a more efficient joint alert mechanism linking the coast guard, police and military, it said.
It also plans to deepen cooperation with international partners, sharing experience on maritime security responses, while exploring the use of advanced technologies to close surveillance gaps, the report said.
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