TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese man who illegally entered Taiwan at the Tamsui River will remain in detention after a court decided he was a flight risk on Wednesday (Aug. 14).

In a hearing at the Shilin District Court, the 60-year-old man surnamed Juan (阮) confessed to entering Taiwan on June 8 aboard a small motorboat in violation of immigration laws, per CNA. Juan said he had served in the Chinese military, while it was previously reported that he was a member of the Chinese Navy.

Juan said he illegally entered Taiwan because he was dissatisfied with the Chinese Communist Party and that he hoped he could stay in Taiwan to help fight against the military threat it posed. He said he had no connections or property in Taiwan and had never visited.

Juan’s lawyer asked the judge to consider his client’s attitude when deciding whether or not to grant bail and asked that visitation rights be reinstated. The judge denied the bail request and ordered Juan remain detained without visitation rights on the basis that he has been charged with a serious offense and presents a flight risk.

The illegal entry into Taiwan prompted the Coast Guard and the defense ministry to increase patrols and security around the Tamsui River, which is considered a strategic entry into Taipei. In the days after the incident, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said the entry might have been an attempt by Chinese authorities to probe Taiwan’s defenses.