Taipei:Eight Japan Coast Guard (JCG) vessels were shadowed by five China Coast Guard (CCG) ships near Taiwan's Penghu Islands as they sought refuge from Typhoon Champi, according to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Japanese vessels began their journey north along the Taiwan Strait median line at 6 a.m. on Thursday. They reached an area southwest of Penghu County's Qimei Island, remaining outside Taiwan's contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline. As the Japanese ships prepared for the typhoon, they were followed by five Chinese coast guard vessels.
The CGA stated that Japan respected Taiwan's law enforcement procedures while seeking shelter. They emphasized the importance of assisting in the spirit of humanity and mutual support, urging China not to use the situation to claim jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait.
The JCG vessels included three large patrol vessels—Reimei, Yashima, and Ryukyu—capable of carrying helicopters, along with five other large patrol vessels Taketomi, Kabira, Matsushima, Irabu, and Osumi. In response, China deployed five coast guard vessels, including the Baita, Xiushan, CCG-2308, and two Daishan patrol vessels.
CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin explained that the Japanese vessels were in the Taiwan Strait to find shelter from the typhoon, following a route opposite to the typhoon's path. He noted that for JCG ships stationed in Okinawa Prefecture, the Taiwan Strait offers the best shelter route.
Hsieh also mentioned that the CGA is monitoring the situation with its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, and is prepared to deploy vessels if necessary. As of press time, neither China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor its Taiwan Affairs Office had commented on the matter.
