TAIPEI – Taiwan’s Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai has pledged a swift review of incidents involving Chinese nationals illegally entering Taiwan by boat. His commitment follows an incident on September 14, where a Chinese man was discovered in a rubber dinghy near northern New Taipei City, marking a similar event that occurred in June.
Prime Minister Cho emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure national security, stating, “We must quickly review these incidents and make appropriate preparations.” He assured that the review process will be expedited to address these security concerns.
The coast guard reported that the New Taipei fire department alerted them to the sighting of a man near the Houkeng River estuary. The man, who was found suffering from severe dehydration, claimed he had debts in China and sought a new life in Taiwan. He was detained for entering the island without permission.
China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory, has increased military and political pressure on the island in recent years. In August, Taiwanese prosecutors indicted a former Chinese naval captain for illegally entering Taiwan by boat, but clarified that there was no military or national security involvement in his case.
This captain, arrested in June after a collision with other boats on the Tamsui River, was one of 18 alleged defectors from China reported over the past year. Many of these individuals expressed admiration for Taiwan’s democratic system. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that these incursions could be tests of Taiwan’s defenses by China.