Patrol boats surrounded and officers came down by rope from a helicopter during a staged hostage destruction in the southern city of Kaohsiung. The island has military drills confronted with growing military and political influence from China, which involves near-daily Chinese warplane incursions into its air defence zone. Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebel province to be merged, by force if it is important.
At Kaohsiung port on Saturday, the coastguard, military, police and airborne services reproduced a hostage situation, along with action-movie music and in progress with narration of the “attack”. “This is (Taiwan) Coast Guard! Stop the engine immediately!” shouted the announcer. “We are going to board and inspect your ship!” Smaller patrol boats encircled the ship while a helicopter fluttered overhead. The officers managed to “covertly” board the ship, and they opened fire – not live rounds – on the yellow-clad hostage takers. In the ending of the rehearsal, officers saluted President Tsai Ing-wen, who waved from the pier.