When Yeh Chih-sheng boards Taiwan Coast Guard vessel CG1005 to patrol the Taiwan Strait, he carries more than his equipment and orders. Tucked alongside his gear are temple charms blessed by guardian deities worshipped by generations of fishermen for protection at sea.
Yeh serves as first mate aboard the 2,400-tonne vessel based in Taiwan’s Penghu islands, placing him on the frontline of growing maritime tensions as China continues to assert its sovereignty claims over the self-governed island.
A Priest Off Duty
Away from his duties at sea, Yeh serves as an assistant priest, known locally as a “sio-huat”, at a temple dedicated to the Five Lords.
The deities have long been revered by coastal communities as protectors of sailors, fishermen and those facing disease.
Yeh has assisted temple rituals since primary school, helping spirit mediums during ceremonies in which worshippers believe the gods descend to offer guidance.
“The Coast Guard is a tangible backing people can see,” Yeh said.
“The Five Lords are a spiritual anchor in people’s hearts. Both help bring fishermen and ordinary people a sense of reassurance.”
Faith Amid Rising China Pressure
Yeh says his religious beliefs have become an important source of comfort as Taiwan faces growing military and maritime pressure from China.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.
Taipei rejects those claims and opposes what it describes as China’s increasingly frequent law enforcement patrols in waters around Taiwan.
The United States and several allies have also voiced concern over recent Chinese operations near Taiwan, saying they risk undermining regional stability.
China’s defence ministry has defended the patrols as “lawful, legitimate and necessary.”
China Erasing the Median Line
Speaking aboard his coast guard vessel, Yeh said Chinese naval and coast guard ships now regularly cross the Taiwan Strait’s median line, once regarded as an unofficial buffer between the two sides.
“They have already erased the median line,” he said.
Rather than escalating confrontations, Yeh explained that Taiwan’s Coast Guard relies on warnings issued through loudspeakers, radio messages, LED displays and water cannon to keep Chinese vessels away.
He described the service’s guiding principle as “not provoking and not yielding.”
Protecting More Than Borders
Whenever he heads out on patrol, Yeh carries temple talismans and ceremonial command tablets blessed by the Five Lords.
Standing beside the temple’s ceremonial divine boat, known as the Chienchiu Paochien, he drew a parallel between the sacred vessel and the coast guard ship he commands.
Both, he said, exist to protect the Taiwan Strait and the people who depend on it.
“What we protect is people’s sense of safety and peace of mind,” Yeh said.
“With the coast guard and navy there, people can live normally.”
(with input from Reuters)
