Reported 7 months ago
A Chinese man surnamed Ruan drove a speedboat from Fujian straight into the Tamsui River, shouting to 'seek freedom' and 'join the Republic of China', leading to criticism of the negligence of the Coast Guard that allowed the Tamsui River to become a national security vulnerability. Premier Su Tseng-chang apologized for the incident during legislative questioning, expressing regret over the concerns it raised among Taiwanese. Ruan, a former navy lieutenant commander of the Chinese Communist Party, was captured by the Coast Guard after a 15-hour, 250-kilometer journey. The Coast Guard admitted to failure in timely reporting and mistaking Ruan's speedboat for a normal returning fishing boat, and several officials have been reprimanded. The Navy explained their lack of involvement, citing their responsibility for waters 24 nautical miles offshore and the absence of weapons on Ruan's boat. Premier Su promised immediate evaluations and reinforcements in personnel and equipment by the Ministry of National Defense and Maritime Commission.
Source: YAHOO