AIT Releases Results of U.S.-Taiwan Coast Guard Cooperation! Kuan: U.S. Recognizes Taiwan Coast Guard as Sole Law Enforcement Authority in Taiwan's Waters

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) recently released a video on its official Facebook page showcasing U.S.-Taiwan coast guard cooperation, stating that the United States Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration are closely coordinating on maritime operations including search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, marine resource conservation, combating illegal fishing, and interdicting maritime drug smuggling. Ocean Affairs Council Chairperson Kuan Bi-ling stated today (28) that AIT's proactive release of this content is highly significant, demonstrating that the U.S. clearly recognizes Taiwan's Coast Guard as the sole law enforcement agency in Taiwan's waters and as the only counterpart for maritime law enforcement cooperation.

Kuan pointed out that U.S.-Taiwan coast guard cooperation has been ongoing for many years and continues to deepen. On January 30, she invited AIT Director Brent Christensen and then-AIT Kaohsiung Branch Chief Andrew Chang to board the Coast Guard Administration's 'Yunlin' vessel to participate in a Lunar New Year event. At that time, she emphasized that Taiwan's current aerial patrol capabilities and maritime special operations capacities are inseparable from long-term U.S.-Taiwan cooperation, with tangible results already evident in enforcement and emergency response capabilities.

In its statement, AIT noted that the U.S. Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration continue to maintain close cooperation on shared goals such as maritime search and rescue, tropical storm disaster preparedness, disaster relief, marine resource conservation, combating illegal fishing, and interdicting maritime drug smuggling. The U.S. expressed appreciation for Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and supports Taiwan's continued substantive contributions to global issues through maritime law enforcement exchanges and international cooperation.

Kuan emphasized that as China continues to harass surrounding waters under the guise of law enforcement and challenges the international order based on international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, AIT's public release of U.S.-Taiwan cooperation outcomes symbolically demonstrates the U.S. commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Western Pacific and supporting a rules-based international order.

The Coast Guard Administration stated that under the U.S.-Taiwan coast guard cooperation memorandum of understanding, both sides have deepened collaboration in recent years across joint maritime search and rescue, anti-smuggling operations, combating illegal fishing, marine environmental protection, and professional training, advancing toward a comprehensive partnership. The Administration highlighted a recent successful joint operation that dismantled a high-level semiconductor chip smuggling case, preventing advanced chips from being diverted for military use, showcasing tangible cooperation in transnational crime interdiction and underscoring the increasingly close U.S.-Taiwan partnership.

Kuan stressed that Taiwan remains a reliable partner for the United States across maritime governance areas including search and rescue, disaster relief, marine resource conservation, and drug interdiction. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to deepen U.S.-Taiwan coast guard cooperation, strengthen maritime law enforcement and emergency response capabilities, and jointly safeguard maritime security, regional peace, and the international order in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.