Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) The Navy on Tuesday was mum over whether it locked its fire control radar onto a Chinese warship participating in a drill in waters off Taiwan's southwestern shores but did not deny employing such a maneuver.
The incident, involving Taiwan's Pan Chao frigate and the Chinese Navy's Ürümqi, a Type 052D destroyer, was reported by "Taiwan ADIZ," a civilian social media page that monitors Chinese military movements around Taiwan, which claimed to show a radio exchange between the two vessels.
According to the page, the incident took place at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday, just before the Ürümqi entered Tawan's southwestern contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles from its shores.
In the audio recording, which could not be independently verified by CNA, a voice purporting to represent the Chinese vessel accused the Pan Chao of having "repeatedly locked its fire control radar onto our ship," a move regarded as one step away from firing a weapon.
"Your provocative intent is extremely clear and poses a serious threat to safety. You must immediately cease your provocative actions; otherwise, I will regard them as hostile acts, and you will bear full responsibility for all consequences," the voice said in the audio clip.
Asked about the issue at a press conference, Navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) said only that the Pan Chao adopted necessary defense measures against the intruder in line with established protocols.
"After a Chinese warship enters the area within 24 nautical miles, we will designate a corresponding vessel to issue a defensive warning," Chiu said.
"The Pan Chao adopted the necessary measure -- issuing a warning -- which fell within said scope, with the aim being to repel [the PLA vessel]."
"The Navy has different protocols for varying contingencies, and in this case, we adopted the established protocol for a PLA military exercise," Chiu said.
The protocol entails a "communication process" in which a warning is issued, followed by a "defensive measure," he explained.
The Navy "would not escalate tensions or create disputes," Chiu added.
