The Port Bureau revised the regulations to prohibit Chinese-owned yachts from visiting Taiwan. Violators will be fined up to NT$300,000.

The Airports and Ports Bureau has recently tightened the revision of the "Principles for Reviewing the Period of Franchise Applications for Non-resident Yachts to come to Taiwan", adding that Chinese-owned yachts are also prohibited from coming to Taiwan. Violators will be fined up to NT$300,000 and must leave the port immediately; a schematic diagram shows the Keelung Badouzi Yacht Berthing Area. (Photo by reporter Huang Yijing)

Chinese yachts and yachts sailing directly from China are currently prohibited from coming to Taiwan. However, the Port Bureau has recently tightened the amendments to the "Principles for Review of the Period of Franchise Applications for Non-Chinese Yachts Applying to Come to Taiwan", adding that Chinese-owned yachts are also prohibited from coming to Taiwan. Violators will be fined up to NT$30,000 and must leave the port immediately.

This principle was issued in accordance with Article 8 of the "Shipping Law". Liu Jiahong, head of the shipping team of the Port Bureau, explained that the "Shipping Law" and the "Cross-Strait Regulations" are closely linked in regulating cross-strait ship navigation, water area management and prohibited matters. Applications for direct navigation of Chinese ships are only limited to berthing in announced commercial ports. Yachts are recreational vessels, and inspections are more stringent than commercial vessels. Considering the possibility of passengers arriving in Taiwan on yachts being stranded, the revised law stipulates that Chinese-owned yachts do not apply.

Huang Tailin, a professor at the Department of Shipping Management at Evergreen University, said that there is a category of maritime ships that are "expedient ships", that is, Chinese ships sail under other countries' national flags to circumvent relevant restrictions. Therefore, this revision of the law is more stringent and clearly stipulates that Chinese-owned yachts do not apply. Hua Xuewen, acting section chief of the Ship Group of the Harbor Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, explained that violations can be in accordance with Article 89 of the "Shipping Law." The ship owner and yacht driver will be fined up to 300,000 yuan, and must leave the port immediately.