The Taiwanese coast guard chased a Chinese fishing boat. Two sailors died: The incident in the Taiwan Strait has resulted in further tensions in the relations of both countries.
A deadly incident in the strait between China and Taiwan has once again heightened tensions between the two countries. After China called it a “vicious incident” following the deaths of two sailors, Taiwan’s Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen called on both sides to exercise calm.
The dispute between Beijing and Taipei was triggered by the capsizing of a Chinese fishing boat with four people on board near the Taiwanese island of Kinmen last Wednesday. According to Taiwanese sources, the boat entered its waters illegally. During the subsequent chase with the Taiwanese coast guard, the boat capsized and two sailors died. The other two were saved.
During the chase with the Taiwanese coast guard, the Chinese fishing boat capsized.
Kinmen is located just a few kilometers from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen. Chen said Taiwan established restricted and off-limits areas in the waters there in 1992. China does not recognize these and speaks of “traditional fishing areas”.
Taiwan calls for restraint
After the incident, China called for clarification and increased the presence of its coast guard in the region. Chinese officials boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 23 passengers and 11 crew members to inspect it on Monday, according to Taiwan news agency CNA. Such controls are rare – and are viewed by Taiwan as a violation of its own sovereignty.
“We hope that both sides are sensible and fair and can cooperate with each other,” said Taiwan’s Prime Minister Chen in front of parliament. At the same time, he appealed to both China and Taiwan to prevent fishing boats from illegally entering protected waters.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the military would not interfere and would leave policing of the waters around Kinmen Island to the coast guard “because we want to avoid war.” He called for the matter to be “settled peacefully.”
China considers Taiwan to be its own part of the country
China views Taiwan as its own part of the country and is threatening to conquer the island republic by force, even though there has been an independent and democratically elected government there for decades. The relationship between the two states has therefore been tense for many years.
Kathrin Erdmann, ARD Tokio, tagesschau, February 20, 2024 9:51 a.m