The Ministry of National Defense established the boundaries of “prohibited” and “restricted” waters around Kinmen in 1992 to better protect fishers, with relevant law enforcement well understood by both sides, Chen said. On Monday, the China Coast Guard boarded a Kinmen sightseeing boat to conduct a surprise inspection. 8209 ship was intercepted by a coast guard vessel after radar detected it entering restricted waters near Kinmen. The coast guard told the Chinese ship that it was barred from entering restricted waters without authorization and shadowed it for nearly an hour before it left Kinmen waters. Although Chinese authorities refused to sign the formal repatriation form, the coast guard said it was a formality and the two men would be sent back regardless.
