Taipei: A Taiwanese navy landing ship and a Chinese fishing vessel collided early Thursday outside restricted waters, with no injuries reported, the Taiwanese navy confirmed.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight when the Taiwanese landing ship Chung Ho made contact with the Chinese trawler Minlianyu 61756 approximately 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Taiwan’s Taichung port in the Taiwan Strait. The collision took place nine nautical miles outside of Taiwan’s designated “restricted waters”.
According to a statement from the Taiwanese navy, both vessels sustained damage, but it did not compromise their navigational safety. “No injuries were reported on either vessel,” the statement noted.
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Authorities have launched an investigation to determine responsibility for the collision, though no further details were immediately provided.
The Taiwan Strait remains a focal point of ongoing military activities involving both Taiwan and China. While military forces from both sides regularly operate in the region, direct confrontations or exchanges of fire have been avoided for decades.
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China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory despite the island’s self-governance, has intensified military drills near Taiwan in recent years. Taiwan’s government continues to reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
