Taiwan Coast Guard Officer Yeh Chih-sheng mixes duty and faith as China ramps up pressure

Yeh Chih-sheng serves as the first mate on Taiwan Coast Guard vessel CG1005, based in the Penghu archipelago. Off duty he is an assistant priest at a local temple devoted to the Five Lords, guardian deities revered by fishermen. He carries temple charms and talismans on patrols, saying, "The Coast Guard is a tangible backing people can see," and, "The Five Lords are a spiritual anchor in people's hearts."

Amid growing Chinese maritime activity, Yeh reports that Chinese warships and Coast Guard vessels frequently cross the historic median line of the Taiwan Strait and approach Taiwan's 24‑nautical‑mile contiguous zone. "They have already erased the median line," he warned. Taiwan’s Coast Guard follows a "not provoking and not yielding" policy, using water cannons, loudspeakers, LED boards and radio messages to deter intrusions without escalation.

China claims sovereignty over the island and describes its patrols as lawful and necessary, while Taiwan rejects the claim. The United States and several allies have voiced concern over the heightened tension, which threatens regional stability. The Penghu waters lie on a vital trade corridor through which billions of dollars of global commerce pass each year.