Taiwan Monitors Chinese Coast Guard Ships Near Kinmen
On September 13, Taiwan observed four Chinese coast guard ships entering a restricted zone near Kinmen. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) unit responsible for Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu quickly deployed four patrol vessels to instruct the Chinese ships to leave. This incident marks the 39th occurrence near Kinmen this year.
China has increased its military presence near Taiwan, with frequent air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and ongoing military exercises near the island. On Monday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported detecting 21 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship operating near Taiwan between 6 am on Sunday and 6 am on Monday.
Since September 2020, China has escalated its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating near Taiwan. Gray zone tactics are described as efforts to achieve security objectives without direct and sizable use of force.
Earlier, on September 3, Taiwan’s MND accused China of launching a satellite over Taiwan, with its flight path passing over the southwestern ADIZ of the island. Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949; however, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located off the southeastern coast of China. It has its own government and operates like a separate country, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Chinese coast guard ships -: These are ships operated by China’s coast guard, which is like a police force for the sea. They patrol and protect China’s waters.
Kinmen -: Kinmen is a group of islands that are very close to the coast of China but are controlled by Taiwan. They are important because of their location.
Coast Guard Administration (CGA) -: The CGA is Taiwan’s organization responsible for protecting its waters and coastlines. They use ships and boats to patrol the sea and make sure everything is safe.
patrol vessels -: These are boats or ships used by the coast guard to watch over and protect an area of the sea. They make sure no one is breaking the rules.
incursions -: Incursions are when someone enters a place without permission. In this case, it means Chinese military planes and ships are entering areas near Taiwan without permission.
Ministry of National Defense -: This is a part of Taiwan’s government that is in charge of the country’s military and defense. They make sure Taiwan is protected from any threats.
military aircraft -: These are airplanes used by the military for defense and combat. They can be used for spying, fighting, or transporting soldiers.
naval vessels -: These are ships used by the navy, which is the part of the military that operates at sea. They can be used for fighting, patrolling, or transporting troops.
