New Taipei: A Chinese man who made headlines last year when his rubber dinghy ran aground off the coast of New Taipei has been formally indicted for illegally entering Taiwan. The man, identified only by his surname Wang, was rescued approximately 100 meters from the shore after reportedly spending nearly five days at sea in an attempt to reach Taiwan to “seek freedom.”

According to Focus Taiwan, the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office issued an indictment on January 9, charging the 32-year-old Wang with breaches of the Immigration Act and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. Wang had contacted Taiwan’s emergency services after his vessel ran aground near the Shantou coast in Linkou District around 6 a.m. on September 14, 2024.

Upon his rescue, Wang informed the Coast Guard that his journey was motivated by a desire for freedom. He admitted to entering Taiwanese waters without legal authorization, leading to the formal charges against him.

Prosecutors detailed that Wang commenced his journey from Taizhou in China’s Zhejiang Province on the morning of September 9. Evidence gathered from his communication devices suggested that Wang had procured all necessary equipment, including a rubber boat, solar charging panels, and oil barrels, through Taobao, a Chinese online marketplace. He utilized these supplies during his five-day voyage to Taiwan.

Additionally, Wang’s phone contained wind charts and searches related to sea and weather conditions around Taiwan, dated the night of September 8. Currently, Wang remains detained and incommunicado, as per the prosecution.

Under Taiwan’s Immigration Act, individuals who enter or exit the country without authorization face up to five years in prison or fines reaching NT$500,000 (approximately US$15,253).