Mainland Chinese man claiming to be ex-navy captain breaches Taiwan defences in speedboat
- ‘The coastguard and the first-line security reporting mechanisms were not effectively managed,’ New Taipei City mayor says
Taiwan’s coastguard has arrested a mainland Chinese man who drove his speedboat directly to a ferry pier outside Taipei on Sunday in a breach that has raised security concerns on the island.
The man was arrested only after he arrived at the pier around 11am, despite being spotted from a coastguard lookout post while approaching the ferry terminal in the Tamsui River in New Taipei City.
The man, identified by his last name Ruan, is 60 years old and was spotted on Sunday 11km (6 nautical miles) off the coast of Tamsui district in New Taipei City. After entering the Tamsui River, which leads to downtown Taipei, the boat hit a ferry at the pier, according to the coastguard.
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Mainland Chinese man claiming to be ex-navy captain breaches Taiwan defences in speedboat
The coastguard sent officers who apprehended the man at the pier and seized his boat for illegal entry. The man was turned over to prosecutors for questioning and investigation.
Ruan, who claimed to be a former mainland Chinese navy captain, said he left Ningde port in the mainland coastal city of Fuzhou on Saturday morning. However, Taiwan’s coastguard said no food or drink was found on the boat.
The incident has sparked concerns in Taiwan, with New Taipei City mayor Hou You-yi calling it a serious security lapse, especially considering the pier is less than 10 minutes from Taipei by boat.
“National border security cannot afford any lapses. This incident indicates that the coastguard and the first-line security reporting mechanisms were not effectively managed,” he said.
