Taiwan Strait

Crew abandons ship after Panamanian freighter runs aground in Penghu Islands

Fortune ship aground at Jibei Island, Penghu County, Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The 14-man crew of a Panamanian-registered cargo ship was airlifted to safety after the vessel ran aground in Penghu County following a mechanical failure, Sunday, October 17. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration Magong Signal Station received a distress call from the crew of the Xinyan Fortune at 9:25 am, reporting that the ship had lost power and was adrift around 7 nautical miles northeast of Jibei Island. The coast guard dispatched three patrol boats and a fixed winged aircraft to the

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Chinese fishing boat fitted with anti-boarding spikes fails to evade Taiwan coast guard

anti-boarding spikes on Chinese fishing boat
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s Coast Guard intercepted a Chinese fishing vessel operating illegally in waters near the Penghu Islands yesterday, and the boat was fitted with spikes designed to prevent boarding. Coast guard patrol boat #5053 was dispatched at 5:00 am, September 5, after a suspicious vessel was detected on radar. The crew of the patrol boat intercepted the Chinese-registered fishing boat 22.4 nautical miles southwest of Hua Islet. When the coast guard approached the vessel, it was noticed that three long steel

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US Navy, Coast Guard cross-transit Taiwan Strait

US navy and coast guard vessels pass each other in the Taiwan Strait
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A US Navy warship, and a US Coast Guard vessel transited the Taiwan Strait simultaneously, but in opposite directions yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed today, August 28. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and legend-class U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) conducted routine Taiwan Strait transits Aug. 27 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law, US Naval Institute reported. The US Navy ship’s transit marked the eighth passage by

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China sends record 28 military flights into Taiwan ADIZ in one day: a response to G7 summit statement?

Chinese J-11 fighter jet.
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The People’s Republic of China made 28 military aircraft incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today, June 15, a record number that follows an ‘unprecedented’ communique from the Group of Seven that highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait just two days ago. The G7 communique issued June 13 reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific, and mentioning Taiwan for the first time in the group’s history, stated “We underscore

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Chinese sand dredger capsizes in Taiwan Strait, 4 rescued, 1 dead, 3 missing

overturned sand dredger in the Taiwan Strait
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Five people were plucked from the water, but one was later declared dead, and three more are missing after a Chinese sand dredger capsized around 60 nautical miles southwest of Qimei Island this morning, May 15. Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) dispatched several patrol boats, and the National Airborne Service Corps sent a helicopter after a notification from the the National Rescue Command Center at 4:36 am. The rescued crew members were flown to the Chiayi Airport where they were

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Chinese man crosses Taiwan Strait in inflatable boat: yearning for freedom and democracy

inflatable boat
Society 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A man was arrested at Taichung Harbor yesterday after crossing the Taiwan Strait from Fujian Province, China in an outboard-motor-powered inflatable boat. Coast Guard officers and harbor police were alerted to the man’s arrival at the Taichung Harbor West Warf at around 2:00 am yesterday. The 33-year-old man named Zhou said that he is from Sichuan Province and had purchased the boat and motor on Huabao.com for RMB16,000. He also purchased four fuel containers with a capacity of 125 liters.

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US Navy destroyer transits Taiwan Strait, and another, more advanced ship of the same class added to western Pacific fleet

USS John S McCain
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain made a transit of the Taiwan Strait, drawing angry remarks from the People’s Republic of China, and another newer, more advanced ship of the same class was added to the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, yesterday, Thursday, February 4. The transit of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) marked the first passage through the Taiwan Strait by a US Navy vessel since President Joe Biden assumed office, January

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Five missing after ship sinks in the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan Coast Guard officers retrieve an empty life raft after a ship sinks in the Taiwan Strait
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Five Thai nationals were rescued and five are missing after a ship lost power in the Taiwan Strait, then sank while being towed to the Port of Kaohsiung last night, October 23. The Seatran Ferry 12, a Tuvulu-registered passenger – vehicular ferry, had been purchased in Japan, and was en route to Thailand when the main engine and auxiliary engines failed at around 11:00 am, yesterday. The ship’s crew contacted a shipping company and hired a tug to tow it

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Taiwan scrambles jets 17 times as China buzzes island in anger at US official’s visit

map showing incursions by PLA aircraft
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Jets were scrambled from air bases around Taiwan at least 17 times this morning after multiple incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) by Chinese military aircraft. The Chinese Communist Party has expressed its anger over the visit of US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Keith Krach, marking the highest level official to visit Taiwan since the US broke diplomatic relations in 1979. China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang announced this morning that combat drills would be carried out in

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US Navy destroyer sails through the Taiwan Strait

USS Mustin DDG-89
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

The Burke-class Aegis missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) sailed through the Taiwan Strait today, August 18, after completing exercises in the East China Sea, according to reports by Taiwan media outlets. Both Taiwan and China dispatched ships to monitor the passage, according to United Daily News. The People’s Republic of China sent a type 052D guided missile destroyer, while Taiwan assigned a Cheng Kung class guided-missile frigate, according to the report. The Ministry of Defense did not confirm the information,

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12 missing after ship sinks, another overturns in the Taiwan Strait

overturned ship in the Taiwan Strait
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Thirteen people were rescued and 12 are still missing after one gravel ship sank and another overturned in the middle of the Taiwan Strait yesterday, October 6. Taiwan’s National Rescue Command Center received a distress call from the vessels early yesterday morning. A Coast Guard vessel was dispatched from Penghu, Taiwan to assist in the search and rescue operation. Other vessels and a helicopter were dispatched from China, while a fixed wing aircraft from Hong Kong also assisted. According to

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