TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese fishers who captured photos of a Chinese submarine on Tuesday (June 18) will receive a cash award based on a Navy program designed to encourage documentation of Chinese military intrusions.
On Tuesday, fishers captured images of a Chinese submarine off the coast of Penghu County. Military enthusiasts speculate that the vessel is a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 094 or a Type 096 nuclear ballistic missile submarine, reported UDN.
In recent years, the waters around Taiwan have become a hotspot for patrols by various countries' warships. To address this, the Navy introduced a reward system for reporting sightings.
Fishers who spot unidentified military vessels and take photos, record their hull number, and report the location can receive a reward of up to NT$30,000 (US$926) if the information is used. If the intelligence is particularly valuable, the reward might be even higher. The fisher must be a Taiwanese national.
According to the reward scheme, if fishers document a Chinese warship within Taiwan's 44-kilometer (24-NM) contiguous zone, they can receive NT$30,000. For other official Chinese government vessels, the reward is NT$20,000.
For military, government, or research vessels from other countries, the reward is also NT$20,000. If the sighting is outside the contiguous zone, the reward is NT$10,000.
If multiple reports are made, the reward goes to the person who first sent the information.
This reward program has been in place for over five years, and the Navy confirmed that it is still ongoing. However, it has not disclosed any information about those who received the reward to maintain confidentiality.
An anonymous naval officer noted that with increased maritime surveillance in recent years, the Navy has documentation on most active vessels. However, new or sensitive vessels may not yet be recorded.
Therefore, this reward program aims to involve fishers in reporting unidentified warships, helping the Navy maintain records, and safeguarding national maritime security.