Taiwan detains Chinese naval captain, questions motives

Taiwanese authorities detained a man over the weekend for illegally entering a port at the mouth of a river leading to Taipei using a motorboat. It has been confirmed that he is a captain in the Chinese Navy. The island's authorities suspect that the captain's arrival may be a provocation from China.

The identification of the individual who entered the Taiwanese port as a Chinese naval captain was announced on Tuesday by Taiwan's Minister of Oceans, Kuan Bi-ling. According to PAP, the authorities believe this could be an element of Beijing's tactics.

The Taiwanese coast guard detained the man on Sunday. The motorboat he was operating entered the port terminal in the seaside district of Tamsui on the Tamsui River, where it collided with several ships.

Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, under which the Coast Guard operates, said in parliament that the man did not clearly state the reasons for his arrival. The CNA agency, citing its sources, reported that he "fled" from China because he posted comments critical of Beijing's authorities on social media.

However, the authorities are cautious. Over the past year, there have been 18 similar cases. "We cannot rule out that this is a test," said Kuan, explaining that it might be an attempt to test Taiwan's ability to detect and respond to units coming from China.

The minister added that the escapees' statements are consistent. "They say they are looking for freedom and long for a free lifestyle in Taiwan," she said. She noted that the difference in this case is that the man has a background in the People's Liberation Army Navy with the rank of captain.