Clash at Sea: Taiwan Navy Vessel and Chinese Fishing Boat Collide in the Taiwan Strait

In the early hours of March 27,a Taiwanese naval ship had a run-in with a Chinese fishing trawler. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but this incident highlights the ongoing tensions as Taiwan remains vigilant against potential Chinese activities in itS waters.

The Navy confirmed that one of its Chung Ho class tank landing ships—displacing around 8,800 tons—collided with the fishing vessel known as Minlianyu 61756. This occurred approximately 45 nautical miles from Taichung on Taiwan’s northwestern coast. Notably, both vessels were operating nine nautical miles outside designated “restricted waters.”

The Coast Guard quickly arrived on the scene to assess and gather evidence. Fortunately, officials stated that the damage sustained by the naval ship did not compromise its navigational capabilities.

This Zhonghe-class tank landing ship is primarily designed for transporting Marines and their gear while supporting amphibious operations.it measures about 561 feet (171 meters) long and can reach speeds up to 20 knots. Equipped with a 40mm gun and a Phalanx rapid-fire system, it’s built for defense—but details about what it was doing at the time of collision remain unclear.

Taiwan has frequently accused Chinese fishing boats of intruding into areas they claim sovereignty over. Some media outlets have speculated whether this particular trawler was acting as an observer for military movements in Taiwanese waters.

A representative from China’s Defense Ministry expressed a need for more information regarding this incident but dismissed any “malicious speculation” surrounding it.Meanwhile, another spokesperson from China’s state council criticized Taiwan’s actions during this event while confirming an investigation into what transpired.

This year alone, Taiwan has ramped up efforts to monitor suspicious vessels lingering near its shores—including foreign-registered ships linked to China. There have been several notable incidents involving fishing boats in recent years that raised alarms.

Taiwan also accused smaller cargo ships owned by