Taiwan Accuses Chinese Vessels of Using Covert Tactics to Enter Restricted Maritime Zones

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has accused Chinese vessels of employing at least eight covert tactics to enter restricted maritime zones near Kinmen County, raising concerns over China’s escalating maritime pressure campaign. NSB Director-General Tsai Ming-yen told the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee that recent images showed seven to eight Chinese commercial vessels sailing into restricted areas, with some disabling their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to avoid detection. In response, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration has increased patrols and approved a 653 million dollar plan to boost naval capacity and intelligence sharing. Analysts say the moves reflect Beijing’s growing use of grey-zone tactics to test Taiwan’s defenses and erode its maritime control.