Taiwan coast guard says 'urgent need' for surveillance tech
TAIPEI: Taiwan's coast guard said on Monday (May 19) there was an "urgent need" for infrared thermal imaging and other technology to detect small boats off the island after it detained two Chinese nationals.
A Chinese father and son were picked up after arriving on a beach near Taipei on Friday, days before Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te celebrates his first year in office.
The pair had travelled undetected by motorised inflatable boat from China's Fujian province, the coast guard said.
"Such boats are not easily detected by radar and the personnel responsible for coastal patrol were patrolling other areas at the time," coast guard spokesman Hsieh Ching-chin told reporters.
"There is an urgent need to enhance patrol capabilities using technological support to prevent further undetected illegal entries," he said.
There had been five cases involving 38 individuals from China and Vietnam caught illegally entering Taiwan since January, the coast guard said.
Hsieh said the coast guard hoped to receive funding from a special budget for infrared thermal imaging equipment as well as drones and artificial intelligence warning systems "to effectively respond to China's increasingly severe grey-zone harassment", Hsieh said.
Infrared thermal imagers had been deployed on Kinmen, an outlying archipelago administered by Taiwan, and other places where "landings have happened before".
However, a round-the-clock coastal surveillance system "with no blind spots" would require "substantial funding", he said.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.
Taiwan accuses China of using "grey-zone" tactics – actions that fall short of an act of war – to weaken its defences.
Hsieh said more Chinese people were arriving illegally on Taiwan's main island than in the past and that it could be part of China's "cognitive warfare".
It was possible Beijing would "again use similar tactics" to "disrupt public morale" as Lai marks the first anniversary of his inauguration on Tuesday, Hsieh said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
13 hours ago
- CNA
Former head of China Eastern Airlines under graft investigation
BEIJING: The former head of China Eastern Airlines is under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law" - a common euphemism for corruption - according to China's top anti-graft watchdog on Saturday (Jun 28). The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission made the announcement in a statement, without giving further details. Liu Shaoyong headed China Eastern Airlines from 2009 until his resignation in 2022. He also previously held the position of party secretary at the airline. The Shanghai-based airline, primarily owned by the Chinese government through its parent company, is one of the three largest Chinese airlines. Liu was credited with turning the carrier around after it posted record losses before he was appointed. China Eastern Airlines under his leadership merged with Shanghai Airlines and joined the SkyTeam airline alliance, strengthening its position in domestic and international markets. Liu also led another one of China's major airlines, China Southern, before taking the reins of China Eastern. Chinese President Xi Jinping has waged an unrelenting crackdown on corruption since coming to power over a decade ago.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Tariff deals could be wrapped up by Labour Day, Bessent says, as talks pick up
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking to members of the press at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 27. PHOTO: AFP Tariff deals could be wrapped up by Labour Day, Bessent says, as talks pick up WASHINGTON - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on June 27 the Trump administration's various trade deals with other countries could be done by the Sept 1 Labour Day holiday, citing talks with 18 main US trading partners and new revisions to a deal with China aimed at expediting rare earths shipments. After a week where tariffs took a back seat to the US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and the massive tax and spending Bill in Congress, the Trump administration's trade negotiations have picked up. The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on June 26 and India sent a delegation to Washington for more talks. 'So we have countries approaching us with very good deals,' Mr Bessent said, on Fox Business Network. 'We have 18 important trading partners... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labour Day,' Mr Bessent said. He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the US or see tariffs spike higher, but has previously said that countries negotiating in good faith could get deals. But President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he could extend the tariff deadline or 'make it shorter', adding that within the next week and a half, he would notify countries of their tariff rates. 'I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25 per cent' tariffs. New US-China export revisions Mr Bessent said the US and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva. As part of its retaliation against new US tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. During US-China talks in May in Geneva, Beijing committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2, but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Mr Bessent said, so the US put countermeasures in place. 'I am confident now that we - as agreed, the magnets will flow,' Mr Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to US firms that had received them previously on a regular basis. He did not disclose details of the latest agreement, which Trump administration officials said was reached earlier this week. Efforts to resolve the dispute included a phone call between Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping which led to teams from both sides meeting again in London, as negotiators try to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies. China's commerce ministry said on June 27 the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus. It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law. It did not mention rare earths. China has dual-use restrictions in place on rare earths which it takes 'very seriously' and has been vetting buyers to ensure that materials are not diverted for US military uses, according to an industry source. This has slowed down the licensing process. The Geneva deal faltered over China's curbs on critical minerals exports, prompting the Trump administration to respond with export controls of its own preventing shipments of semiconductor design software, ethane, engines for Chinese-made aircraft and other goods to China. The US-China negotiations have yet to delve into the Trump administration's core complaints about China's state-led, export-driven economic model with just over six weeks to go before the Geneva tariff truce expires on Aug 10. News of the latest revision to the China deal comes as Mr Trump has a meeting scheduled on June 27 with the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, two African nations that are rich in critical minerals. India talks Indian government sources told Reuters that a trade delegation from New Delhi was back in Washington on June 27 aiming to sew up a limited US trade deal ahead of the July 9 deadline. Trump administration officials frequently count India among countries with which trade talks are at an advanced stage, along with Japan. But early optimism about a simple deal to reduce India's high tariffs has hit roadblocks over disagreements on US import duties for auto parts steel and farm goods, Indian officials with direct knowledge said. The US Trade Representative's office did not immediately respond to queries on talks with India or the European Union. Mr Trump said that his administration was looking to get a "full trade barrier dropping" deal with India. 'I'm not sure that that's going to happen, but as of this moment, we've agreed to that - go into India and trade,' Mr Trump said. Pre-tariff spending fades The latest negotiating activity comes amid signs on June 27 that uncertainty over Trump's tariffs is starting to take a toll on the economy. US consumer spending unexpectedly fell in May as the boost from the pre-emptive buying of goods like motor vehicles ahead of Mr Trump's tariffs faded, while monthly inflation maintained a moderate pace of increase. But Wall Street investors took the consumer spending data as another sign that the Federal Reserve may resume rate cuts in July, sending stock indexes back to record highs. Mr Bessent's more optimistic tone on trade also helped shares, and an influential Wall Street economist who had been a sceptic of Mr Trump's tariffs appeared to reverse course. Mr Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, asked in a blog: 'Has Trump outsmarted everyone on tariffs?' Mr Slok said that extending the deadline by a year would give countries and US domestic businesses time to adjust to the new world with permanently higher tariffs while reducing uncertainty, which would help markets. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
China confirms trade deal framework reached with United States
BEIJING: China confirmed on Friday (Jun 27) details on the framework of a trade deal with the United States, saying Washington would lift "restrictive measures" while Beijing would "review and approve" items under export controls. A top priority for Washington in talks with Beijing had been ensuring the supply of the rare earths essential for products including electric vehicles, hard drives and national defence equipment. China, which dominates global production of the elements, began requiring export licences in early April, a move widely viewed as a response to blistering tariffs imposed by Trump. The two sides agreed after talks in Geneva in May to temporarily lower steep tit-for-tat tariffs on each other's products. China also committed to easing some non-tariff countermeasures, but US officials later accused Beijing of violating the pact and slow-walking export licence approvals for rare earths. They eventually agreed on a framework to move forward with their Geneva consensus following talks in London this month. A White House official also told AFP on Thursday that Donald Trump's administration and China had "agreed to an additional understanding for a framework to implement the Geneva agreement". That clarification came after the US president told an event that Washington had "just signed" a deal relating to trade with China, without providing further details. Beijing confirmed on Friday that an agreement had been reached. "It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway," a spokesperson for the commerce ministry said in a statement. It said both sides had "further confirmed the details of the framework". Under the deal, China "will review and approve applications for the export control items that meet the requirements in accordance with the law". "The US side will correspondingly cancel a series of restrictive measures against China," the commerce ministry said. Separately on Thursday, the White House also indicated that Washington could extend a July deadline when steeper tariffs affecting dozens of economies are due to kick in. Trump imposed a sweeping 10 per cent levy on most trading partners this year but also unveiled - then halted - higher rates on dozens of economies while negotiations took place. That pause is set to expire on Jul 9. When asked if there would be another delay, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "Perhaps it could be extended, but that's a decision for the president to make. "The deadline is not critical. The president can simply provide these countries with a deal if they refuse to make us one by the deadline." This means Trump can "pick a reciprocal tariff rate that he believes is advantageous for the United States", she added.
