China has expressed strong disapproval of the actions taken by Taiwanese authorities following the unfortunate incident where two Chinese fishermen lost their lives while being pursued by Taiwan's coastguard near the Kinmen archipelago.
According to Chinese and Taiwanese authorities, a speedboat in China overturned on Wednesday, causing all four passengers to be thrown into the water. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan affairs office, said the incident has caused significant emotional distress among compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese Fishermen Drown After Taiwan Coast Guard Chase
Taiwan's coastguard claimed the speedboat was reported to have entered Taiwanese waters without authorization. The boat refused to comply with the coastguard's request for an inspection and unfortunately capsized while attempting to escape.
Zhu emphasized the importance of the Taiwanese authorities conducting a prompt investigation into the incident, as urged by Beijing. All four individuals were successfully rescued from the water and promptly transported to the hospital. The coastguard said that two individuals were declared dead despite attempts to revive them, as per The Guardian.
The Kinmen islands are under the control of Taiwan, yet they are located within close proximity to China's coast. China asserts its control over Taiwan, despite lacking sovereignty over the territory and its surrounding islands, which are home to 23 million people.
The incident occurs amidst heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The presidential election in Taiwan, which took place in January, was won by Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive party. Beijing views him as a "separatist."
China's president, Xi Jinping, has consistently emphasized the importance of reunifying Taiwan with China, a country that was divided almost 75 years ago following a civil war in 1949. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, even though it has never governed it. As a result, there is often a significant presence of Chinese vessels in the waters near Kinmen due to its close proximity.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of China expressed deep concern over the tragic incident involving the fishermen, emphasizing the emotional impact it had on people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait during the Spring Festival, a significant holiday celebrated by mainland China and Taiwan.
The incident was attributed to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, which was accused of forcefully seizing mainland fishing boats and treating mainland fishermen roughly and dangerously, according to the report. The case is currently under investigation by Taiwan's coast guard. The coast guard assured that they would reach out to the families of the fishermen using proper channels, CNN reported.
Taiwan Detects 14 China Warplanes Nearby
Meanwhile Taiwan's defense ministry reported the detection of 14 mainland Chinese air force planes conducting "joint combat readiness patrols" with PLA warships around the island on Wednesday.
Over the past four years, Beijing has consistently deployed warplanes and warships in the skies and waters surrounding the island, in an effort to assert its sovereignty claims, which are rejected by the Taipei government.
The defense ministry of Taiwan reported that at approximately 1pm on Wednesday, they observed 14 aircraft from the People's Liberation Army, which included J-16 fighters and drones, conducting operations in the northern and southwestern regions of Taiwan.
The ministry reported that nine aircraft flew across the median line of the Taiwan Strait or nearby areas, collaborating with PLA warships to conduct joint combat readiness patrols.
Taiwan has deployed its own forces to monitor the situation, according to the defense ministry. Many countries, including the US, do not acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state. However, Washington strongly opposes any use of force to take control of the self-governed island and is dedicated to providing it with military support, SCMP reported.
