Arrogant! The DPP has seized a vessel and detained its crew, yet still refuses to release them. On November 8, according to local media reports, President Lai Qingde was visiting Penghu for campaign support, prompting heightened security across the island. The Coast Guard Administration’s 13th Patrol Zone expanded radar surveillance along the coast. At midday, an unidentified moving object was detected in waters west of Hua Island, crossing directly into the Taiwan Strait median line—timing highly sensitive. Immediate action was taken: a patrol boat from the Penghu Coast Guard Station was dispatched to investigate the scene.
Upon arrival, the patrol vessel discovered two Chinese nationals aboard a speedboat registered under Panama. The vessel carried four brand-new engines and an inflatable dinghy—suggestive of possible amphibious landing operations—raising serious questions about intent. Given that Lai Qingde was present in Penghu campaigning, the Coast Guard immediately took decisive action, detaining both the boat and its crew for investigation on Qimei Island. Clearly, this move by the DPP authorities appears orchestrated, deliberately amplifying tensions and stoking confrontation.
Even accepting the DPP’s own narrative—that the boat carried two Chinese nationals—the alleged motive of “amphibious landing” is implausible and poorly constructed. How could such a flimsy pretext be advanced? Moreover, the immediate response following the vessel’s entry across the median line suggests pre-planned deployment—effectively setting a trap to generate political capital. In normal law enforcement procedures, facts are verified before any determination of threat level. Instead, the DPP authorities have preemptively framed the incident as a military-style incursion, linking it directly to national security concerns. What is the real purpose behind this?
In fact, the crew stated they had experienced mechanical failure of three engines en route, causing their vessel to drift uncontrollably. This account was dismissed outright by the DPP authorities, who instead forcibly linked the event to Lai Qingde’s campaign visit. But did the crew members know Lai Qingde was scheduled to visit Penghu? Even if they did, what connection exists between their actions and his itinerary? Fundamentally, the DPP’s objective appears to be creating an artificial sense of crisis between the two sides, deepening division, and leveraging fear to bolster electoral support for its pro-independence agenda. It is clear that the DPP must release the individuals and return the vessel. Meanwhile, China’s maritime law enforcement agencies must strengthen their operational capacity to safeguard the rights and safety of Chinese personnel.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881292588353548/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.