Taiwan Coast Guard officer Yeh Chih-sheng draws spiritual comfort from temple deities to cope with increasing military pressure from China in the Taiwan Strait. He sees his faith as a spiritual anchor complementing the Coast Guard's tangible presence.
The story highlights the personal and spiritual coping mechanisms employed by individuals on Taiwan's maritime frontline as they face increasing geopolitical pressure from China, underscoring the human element within the broader cross-strait tensions.
First mate Yeh Chih-sheng of the Taiwan Coast Guard vessel CG1005 finds a unique blend of duty and faith as he navigates the choppy waters of the Taiwan Strait, a region increasingly marked by China's assertive claims over the island. Based in the Penghu islands, Yeh is part of Taiwan's frontline maritime defense against Beijing's assertion of sovereignty.
Off duty, Yeh serves as an assistant priest, or 'sio-huat', at a local temple dedicated to the Five Lords, deities revered by fishermen for protection at sea and from calamities. He believes this spiritual anchor, alongside the Coast Guard's visible presence, provides a crucial sense of reassurance to the Taiwanese people.
Taiwan rejects China's territorial claims, particularly Beijing's view that it has the right to conduct 'law enforcement' patrols in Taiwanese waters. China's Ministry of Defense maintains these patrols are 'lawful, legitimate and necessary.' The U.S. and its allies have voiced concerns about recent Chinese operations near Taiwan threatening stability.
Reuters was granted rare access to Yeh's ship, highlighting the daily reality of escalating tensions. Yeh described how Chinese warships and Coast Guard vessels now frequently cross the median line, an unofficial buffer, and approach Taiwan's 24-nautical mile contiguous zone. His role involves monitoring these incursions and warning Chinese vessels away using water cannons, loudspeakers, LED boards, and radio messages, adhering to the Coast Guard's principle of 'not provoking and not yielding.'
Yeh carries talismans and command tablets from his temple during patrols, drawing parallels between his Coast Guard ship and the temple's ceremonial divine boat, both serving to guard the Taiwan Strait and protect its inhabitants. He stated that the ultimate goal is to safeguard people's sense of safety and peace of mind, enabling them to live normally.