Venturing into Taipei harbor aboard a speedboat on Sunday, a Chinese ex-navy commander found himself in custody, sparking speculations about his motives and intentions, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Traversing the 160 km stretch of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as a natural border between China and Taiwan, the individual was intercepted by Taiwan’s vigilant coast guard upon arrival.

Claiming asylum, the man’s stated intentions are under scrutiny, with officials suggesting a possible reconnaissance mission rather than a genuine defection attempt. Identified as a former officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, surnamed Ruan, the 60-year-old is currently undergoing interrogation, detailed Al Jazeera’s latest report.

Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) overseeing coastal security, described the individual as “refined and well-presented” during a parliamentary briefing. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo hinted at the incident being part of China’s subtle “grey zone” tactics against the island.

These tactics, characterized by covert maneuvers avoiding direct confrontation, have included instances of Chinese vessels and aircraft encroaching upon Taiwan’s territory. In March, for instance, two Taiwanese fishermen inadvertently trespassed into Chinese waters near the Kinmen Islands, adjacent to China’s coast.

While one Taiwanese officer remains detained in China, another was swiftly released following a similar incident, according to Al Jazeera’s coverage. The recent escalation in tensions between China and Taiwan has fueled concerns of potential military action by Beijing to assert its territorial claims over the island.