Taiwan's Coast Guard handed out promotions to 14 officers, a sign the government is putting more weight on maritime security as pressure around the island grows.

• Two officers were promoted to major general, including a deputy chief of the investigation branch, with nine more moving up to colonel rank.
• Ocean Affairs Council head Kuan Bi-ling led the ceremony and tied the promotions to the Coast Guard's role in guarding Taiwan's waters.
• Drug seizures at sea have hit new highs, topping 13,000 kilograms of narcotics last year, making the Coast Guard a central part of Taiwan's anti-drug effort.
• President Lai Ching-te added extra general-officer slots as a reward for that record, a direct signal of political backing.
• The job is getting harder: patrol work is described as more intense, riskier, and more technically demanding than before.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep expanding coast guard staffing and surveillance capacity as maritime patrol duties grow more dangerous.