The Coast Guard Administration says it closely monitored four China Coast
Guard vessels operating in restricted waters off the coast of Kinmen.

The intrusion was reported to the administration's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch.

It dispatched three patrol boats to monitor the Chinese vessels and gather
evidence until they left the area a couple of hours later.

Taiwan Coast Guard officials say the four Chinese vessels paired up and
respectively entered the restricted area from east of Bei-Ding Island and
south of Fu-Xing Island for sorties that lasted about two hours.

Officials say the actions of the Chinese vessels do not maintain the
relationship between Kinmen and Xiamen, nor do they advance regional
stability.

The Chinese Coast Guard is describing the intrusion as an effort to "further
strengthen" Beijing's "control of the waters" ... its also aimed at ensuring
residents' fishing rights as well as life and property security within
China's territory, which it claimed "includes Taiwan."

Beijing has increased its activity in waters around Kinmen after the deaths
of two Chinese nationals on February 14, when their speedboat capsized after
illegally entering waters near the outlying island.