Exclusive》President Lai arrived across the sea to support the election. The Panamanian-Chinese speedboat drifted on Huayu Island and was confiscated by the coast patrol

A Panamanian-registered Chinese speedboat broke down in the waters of Huayu Island, and the Penghu Coast Guard towed it back to Qimei Port for investigation. (provided by the public)

President Lai Qingde arrived in Penghu today (8th) across the sea to support the election. The whole island of Penghu has stepped up its vigilance. The coast radar of the 13th Patrol Area of the Coast Guard has expanded its scanning and search. At noon, an unknown black spot was found moving in the west waters of Huayu Island, directly cutting into the center line of the strait. An emergency patrol boat deployed in the Qimei Sea was rushed to the scene. The Panamanian-registered Chinese speedboat was seized with the case and towed to Qimei Port to investigate and clarify the motive.

An investigation by the Coast Guard Administration pointed out that at about 12 noon today, the coastal radar of the 13th Penghu Patrol Area detected an abnormality, and an unknown black spot appeared in the west waters of Huayu Island, directly cutting into the center line of the strait. Since President Lai Qingde was in Penghu to support the Democratic Progressive Party Penghu County Mayor candidate Wu Shujin, the timing was very sensitive, so the Penghu Coast Guard was immediately dispatched to station the Qimei patrol boat and rush to the scene to understand the situation.

When the patrol boat arrived at the scene, it was found that there were two Chinese crew members on board the speedboat, but the boat was registered as Panamanian. There were four brand-new engines on board, as well as a rubber boat. It was suspected of being used for beach landing. The motive was quite unclear. In addition, the president was campaigning in Penghu, and the timing was very sensitive. Therefore, the coast guard patrol boat immediately took drastic measures and brought the speedboat and the crew back to Qimei for investigation and clarification.

According to the personnel on board, the speedboat departed from Zhejiang, China on the 3rd, and the destination was Hainan Island. The engines and rubber boats on the ship were all destined for Hainan Island for delivery. However, during the voyage, three of the four engines on the ship broke, so it drifted towards Huayu. The Chinese shipowner has been contacted to send personnel to carry the engines and rush to Qimei for repairs. Penghu Coast Patrol officers were suspicious of the crew's statement and temporarily detained them until China sent personnel to Qimei to handle the matter.

The speedboat had 4 brand new engines and a rubber boat, and the motive was suspected to be not pure. (provided by the public)