AssetID: 55933918
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Chinese Research Vessel Draws Taiwan Coast Guard Warning
Caption: Chinese Research Vessel Draws Taiwan Coast Guard Warning. Taiwan’s coast guard said on Friday it had warned off and shadowed a Chinese research vessel operating in waters west and southwest of the island. The vessel was spotted late Thursday about 24.9 nautical miles northwest of Taiwan’s Penghu islands, an area that hosts important Taiwanese military facilities. The ship later moved southeast and was reported about 28 nautical miles west-southwest of Liuqiu island, off southern Taiwan, according to the coast guard. Taiwan said it dispatched a patrol boat to sail alongside the vessel and issued strong radio warnings ordering it to leave, although authorities did not observe it deploying scientific equipment. The Tongji is equipped with remotely operated vehicles, laboratories and unmanned systems, raising concerns in Taiwan about its potential use for maritime surveys or other activities. Taiwanese authorities said this was the third time the Tongji had appeared near the island since May, when the vessel was previously observed lowering ropes into the water. Taipei suspected that episode could have been related to survey operations. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Chinese,research,vessel,incursion,Taiwan,Taipei,coast guard,warnings,island,sovereignty,survey,operations,ropes,third,incident,May,scientific,equipment,territorial,waters
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