A number of small boat landings by Chinese nationals in recent months have aroused suspicions that the activity may be part of a larger systematic operation by China.
The day before the first anniversary of President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) inauguration, a Chinese father and son rowed a rubber boat from Fujian to Guanyin Beach in Taoyuan; the day before that, a Chinese internet influencer who goes by the nickname Shandong Kaige posted clips on social media claiming to have traveled from China to the coast of Dayuan in Taoyuan, planted a Chinese flag, and returned to China on the same day.
Addressing media before reporting to the Legislature on Wednesday, Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said that while they are not ruling out the possibility that China is deliberately orchestrating these small boat landings, the case is still being investigated by prosecutors and the Coast Guard Administration. As the investigation is not open to the public, she could not share further details.
Kuan explained that at least 27 cases of small boat landings have occurred during the past two years from as many as 15 provinces, even very inland provinces. In addition, the Chinese nationals cite similar reasons for attempting to illegally immigrate and are typically found to possess modular equipment. For these reasons, it is difficult to ascertain the reasons why they might be attempting to immigrate or whether the events constitute gray zone harassment.