Fishing trip mishap or grey-zone test? Taiwan arrests men after boat slips past defences
Two people from mainland China were arrested six days after illegally landing in Taiwan by inflatable boat, raising fresh concerns over the island’s coastal security amid its biggest annual military drill. The timing of the incident has drawn scrutiny. The two men arrived just before the 10-day Han Kuang exercise, which began on August 5, and remained at large for nearly a week before being…
Two Chinese men were arrested on July 30, 2025, for illegally landing in Taiwan on an inflatable boat after six days at sea. The incident occurred just days before the Han Kuang military drill began on August 5, raising concerns about Taiwan's coastal security. The men claimed they were on a fishing trip and drifted to Taiwan by accident, but investigators found this story questionable.
They were unable to explain how they reached the Port of Taipei or why they had New Taiwan dollars and Chinese mobile phones. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) stated that its radar system had failed to detect the landing due to human error. Authorities are investigating whether a third person may have entered Taiwan on the same boat.
The incident occurred near a military air defense base, sparking speculation that Beijing might be testing Taiwan's defenses.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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