Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan)

Coast Guard Administration
海岸巡防署

Flag of the Coast Guard Administration

Logo of the Coast Guard Administration
Agency overview
Formed 1 February 2000[1]
Jurisdiction  Republic of China
Headquarters Wenshan, Taipei
Employees 15,034 (est. 2004)
Minister responsible Wang Chung-yi, Minister
Yu Ming-shi, Cheng Chang-hsiung[2], Administrative Deputy Ministers
Website www.cga.gov.tw

The Coast Guard Administration of the Executive Yuan (CGA; Chinese: 行政院海岸巡防署; pinyin: Xíngzhèngyuàn Hǎi'àn Xúnfáng Shǔ) is charged with maintaining law and order, protecting the resources of the territorial waters of the Republic of China, which surrounds Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu Islands, Green Island, Orchid Island, Dongsha Islands, and Nansha Islands as well as providing a first line of defense along coastal areas against smugglers and illegal immigrants. The CGA is considered a civilian law enforcement agency under the administration of the Executive Yuan, though during emergencies it may be incorporated as part of the Republic of China Armed Forces.

Organization

The Coast Guard Administration is headed by one minister and three deputy ministers. The CGA includes eight departments, one office and five task forces, as well as a Maritime Patrol Directorate General and a Coastal Patrol Directorate General. Its jurisdiction covers the waters surrounding Kinmen, Matzu, Penghu, and the main island of Taiwan to ensure proper protection of the 1,819.8 kilometers coastline and 540,000 square kilometers of "Blue Territory," which is 15 times larger than the island of Taiwan.

History

Coast Guard Administration building.

The CGA was established on 1 February 2000, combining the Coast Guard Command (formerly under the Ministry of Defense), the Marine Police Bureau (formerly under the National Police Administration, Ministry of Interior), and several cutters from the Taiwan Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Finance. The CGA formally unifies coastal and maritime law enforcement agencies It has seen a great deal of action for a young agency, participating in numerous search and rescue and anti-smuggling operations. The Coast Guard Administration was also recently involved in escorting Taiwanese fishing boats into waters disputed with Japan claimed by both sides as part of their exclusive economic zones.

Intelligence Function

Some people in Taiwan still regard the Coast Guard Administration as an intelligence agency due to its root. Indeed, the land branch of the Coast Guard Administration is inherited from the former Taiwan Garrison Command. As a result, a lot of intelligence personnel from the Military Police Command or the late Taiwan Garrison Command are still in the ROCCGA.

There are several mobile investigative groups subordinated to four corresponding areas of responsibility of the Coastal Patrol Directorate General. All mobile investigative groups of the Coast Guard Administration are tasked to perform intelligence-gathering mission of State Security. While executing such intelligence-gathering function, The Coast Guard Administration is subjected to the supervisory and coordination from the National Security Bureau.

Fleet

ROCCGA patrol boats
Coast Guard cutters docked in Keelung Harbor.
Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan) patrol vessel

Cutters and Patrol Boats

Helicopters

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coast Guard Administration, Executive Yuan.