Kinmen

Yearning for Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, Chinese man sails to Kinmen County in home made boat

home made boat that landed on Wuqiu Island, Kinmen County
Society 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A man was arrested in Wuqiu Township, Kinmen County March 27, after sailing from Fujian Province, China, in a home made boat, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) revealed today, March 30. The 37-year-old man named Li sailed the rudimentary craft, made from steel bars, Styrofoam, wooden boards, and powered with an outboard motor from his home on Meizhou Island. The CGA said that Li had departed from Meizhou Island in the daytime of March 27, and landed on the coast

Read more

Historic navy ship sold as scrap iron gets last minute reprieve

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A ship that began service in World War II, and was recently sold as scrap metal, may be kept as a historical monument after the navy decided to postpone signing a sales contract for one month. [See previous story: Veteran navy ship sold for scrap.] The tank landing ship Chung Hai ( 中海) was decommissioned in 2010 after 65 years of service with the ROC Navy. Since then it has been berthed in the Port of Kaohsiung. During its service

Read more

Gerbil smuggling operation intercepted in Kinmen County

Animals 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

A Taiwanese woman was intercepted entering the country from China via Kinmen today with 24 live gerbils wrapped in stockings and taped to her lower legs. Customs and Quarantine, along with Coast Guard officers, are currently vigorously inspecting people entering Taiwan via the “three links” in Kinmen County, in an attempt to prevent African Swine Flu spreading from China to Taiwan. Officers at the Shuitou Customs Clearance Center spotted a middle-aged woman with an unusual body-shape, acting suspiciously, and walking

Read more

Hog carcass found on Kinmen beach infected with African Swine Fever, came from China

pig carcass found on Kinmen infected with ASF
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) told reporters today that a dead pig found washed up on Jinsha Beach in Kinmen County, December 31, has been confirmed to be infected with the African Swine Fever virus, and originated in China. As a result of the finding, all pork meat, and pork-related products originating on the islands of Kinmen will be banned from entering Taiwan for a period of two weeks, as pigs on the 68 hog farms in Kinmen are tested

Read more

Animal Smugglers Intercepted after Entering Taiwan via Kinmen

smuggled animals hidden in pants
Animals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Three men were intercepted by Aviation police on Kinmen after entering Taiwan from China with exotic animals hidden in mesh stockings attached to their legs, then attempting to board a flight to Taipei, today, July 19. The Taiwanese nationals were found to be carrying a total of 68 individuals consisting of four species of rodents and birds. The contraband included 32 ground squirrels (Spermophilus), 20 Japanese White-eye (bird: Zosterops japonicus), 8 ferrets, and 8 unidentified birds. Aviation police at Kinmen

Read more

Wounded Otter Rescued After Wandering into Kinmen Elementary School

otter in elementary school on Kinmen
Animals Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

[Picture: Baicun Elementary School] A wounded otter was flown to Taipei Zoo for emergency surgery after wandering into an elementary school in Kinmen County yesterday, Friday, December 29. Veterinarians suspect the Eurasian otter was attacked by stray dogs. According to the principal of Baicun Elementary School, at around 10:00 am, teacher Chen Qianhui went to the natural science classroom to fetch some teaching materials for a class, when suddenly she saw an 80 centimeter long, rat-like animal running around in

Read more

Baby Finless Porpoise Washed up on Oil-Stained Beach

dead finless porpoise and oil on contaminated beach
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A dead juvenile finless porpoise was found on an oil-contaminated beach in Kinmen County yesterday, November 3, after a Chinese-registered gravel ship that ran aground last month broke up and sank around 700 meters offshore. The vessel Quan Hai 88 ran aground on October 16, with 10 tons of diesel fuel and 60 tons of heavy oil on board, according to this Liberty Times Network Report made on October 17. The same report said that port authorities on the Taiwan

Read more

Bargain-Hunter’s Opportunity: Confiscated Sand Dredge Up for Auction

sand dredge to be put up for auction by Taiwan authorities
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Kinmen District Prosecutor’s Office today announced that a Chinese-registered sand dredging ship confiscated after encroaching on Taiwan territory will be put up for auction August 10. The Yuantai 99 was intercepted after being found stealing sand from territorial waters near Kinmen County. January 18, seven crewmen were sentenced to 6-8 months detention, while the ship was confiscated under prevention of profit from crime law. A reserve price of NT$11 million (under US$363,000) has been set for the auction. It is

Read more

Oil Spills Pose Environmental Threat After Typhoon

Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Ships cast adrift after cables snapped during Typhoon Meranti’s onslaught in southern Taiwan and Kinmen, now pose an environmental threat as oil spills from the stranded vessels. Authorities are struggling to contain oil spills in Kaohsiung’s Xiziwan (West Bay), and on the island of Kinmen (Golden Gate). Four Seine-Net fishing vessels whose cables snapped during the typhoon ran aground in Xiziwan, and oil spilling from the boats is threatening a nearby coral ecosystem. After viewing the site on September 15,

Read more

Asylum Seeker Escapes China in Tiny Toy Inflatable Boat

A man and a patrolman pack up an inflatable toy boat used to cross from China to Taiwan
Stupid Stuff 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province was caught by patrolmen on Little Jinmen Island in the early hours April 28, after rowing a toy inflatable boat from Xiamen in the middle of the night. The patrolmen spotted the man in the tiny boat about 50 meters from the shore at around 5.15 a.m. When he landed, they arrested the man and took him in for questioning. Mr. Qian, a 43 year old man from Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, claimed

Read more