Naval officer gives personal account of a confrontation with a Chinese destroyer

Naval officer gives personal account of a confrontation with a Chinese destroyer

2022-08-09

A naval officer in command of a confrontation with a Chinese destroyer near Kaohsiung has spoken about the encounter. China’s PLA Navy was instructed to approach Taiwan’s territorial waters, but Taiwan’s Navy was determined to not let that happen. After a tense standoff, the Chinese vessel turned away, narrowly avoiding conflict. The story has come to light thanks to a university student with a penchant for analyzing PLA movements.

Chinese state media on Monday said that Chinese military drills east of the median line of the Taiwan Strait would likely be normalized in the future. China now appears to be validating that statement. China’s PLA has made 42 flights across the line in two days with aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30s, Shenyang J-16s and J-11s, and Xian H-6 bombers. Twenty of those flights occurred on Sunday, and 22 on Monday – the day after it said it would end drills in the strait.

Chang Yan-ting
Retired air force lieutenant general
Now there is no longer a median line. They’ve already passed over Taiwan’s territorial waters. Now we don’t have any strategic depth, and without strategic depth there is no strategic early warning. Without strategic early warning, we are at high risk of a crisis. If China suddenly attacks, we have no room to maneuver, and we don’t have flexibility in responding to the enemy. It’s a very tense situation. We have to prepare for the worst, and do our best to prepare. I don’t think we should take it lightly or underestimate the enemy, because China is now adopting a paralysis strategy.

While Chinese military aircraft are crossing the strait, Chinese naval vessels are also approaching Taiwan’s territorial waters. Taiwanese university student Joseph Wen, who has gained notoriety for a map he compiled of Chinese military bases, on Saturday tweeted a photo of a Taiwanese guided missile destroyer facing off with a Chinese destroyer off the coast of Kaohsiung. In his tweet, Wen included comments from the naval officer in command of the Taiwanese destroyer.

Wen’s tweet cited information showing that the Chinese destroyer was ordered on Friday to pass the strait’s median line. The Taiwanese naval officer said it was their mission to not let the Chinese destroyer pass, and that they were preparing to collide with the enemy vessel if necessary. The two vessels came within 200 yards – roughly 180 meters – of each other, before the Chinese vessel gave up its course and turned west. The officer said the Navy was at the ready, and that it would prepare for war, but not incite it.

Voice of Joseph Wen
University student
China test-fired a missile. Of course, following a missile test like that, the military’s officers will be nervous. My friends in the Navy said that they would defend Taiwan’s territorial waters to the death, and would not let the PLA approach. The PLA talks tough, but in reality it still exercises caution. I’m sure it is aware of where the bottom line is.

Wen’s social media posts drew praise from Taiwanese users, with people thanking officers for their bravery and determination.

Voice of Joseph Wen
University student
When the Navy officers feel that they are needed, it’s natural that their service will bring them a sense of honor. The defense ministry is like a simple and honest person who is not good at expressing themselves, but in intercepting the PLA they will fully devote themselves to their duty. If the ministry spoke more, I feel the results would be good. If they come out and speak to the public, it will be good for their image.

Wen believes that personal accounts from servicemen and servicewomen would be more effective in galvanizing the public than military propaganda would be.