Taiwan Coast Guard Chief: Island Must Control Its Own Ocean Data

Taiwan’s maritime stability is under strain as the government pushes for greater independence in ocean data collection. On Monday, the head of the Ocean Affairs Council stated that the island must conduct its own surveys to secure its waters.

Kuan Bi-ling, who leads the agency that manages the Coast Guard, spoke at a sea drone forum in the southern city of Tainan. She noted that Taiwan’s resources, energy supply, and logistics rely entirely on the ocean. The island sits on a major route in the global supply chain, meaning its safety affects global economic development.

The Coast Guard faces a growing number of challenges. Kuan identified "grey-zone harassment" as a primary threat. This term describes Chinese actions that pressure Taiwan’s forces without starting an outright war. To handle these risks, she said the Coast Guard requires more equipment and better intelligence to spot threats early.

Kuan emphasized the need for self-sufficiency in data. "We maintain that Taiwan’s ocean must be surveyed by ourselves, and that we must master our own information," she said. The agency aims to reduce its reliance on outside sources for critical maritime details.

China has increased its presence in the region. On Saturday, Beijing announced it sent another Coast Guard patrol to the waters off Taiwan’s east coast. This follows a series of incidents this year involving Chinese research ships sailing near the island. The Chinese military also conducts operations around Taiwan on a nearly daily basis.

Taiwan’s government argues that China has no legal jurisdiction over its waters. Officials say Beijing is breaking international law by using patrols to assert control. They also reported that China has used radio messages to harass merchant ships in areas not under Chinese command.

Beijing has not given up on using force to control Taiwan, though it prefers "peaceful reunification." The dispute remains a central point of tension between the two sides.