Chinese coastguard officials briefly boarded a Taiwanese ship on Monday, Taipei said, after Beijing said it would step up patrols following a boat incident in which two Chinese nationals died.
All four on board were thrown into the water and two of the crew later died. The two rescued were detained in Quemoy – a territory located just five km (three miles) from mainland China’s city of Xiamen.
Taiwan had defended its actions by saying the boat was in prohibited waters, while mainland China said it would increase “law enforcement patrol operations” in the area.
On Monday, Taipei’s coastguard announced that two Chinese coastguard boats near Quemoy had approached a Taiwanese cruise ship.
“Six mainland coastguard officers boarded the ship. After inspecting the ship’s voyage plan, ship certificate, the captain and crew’s licenses and the captain’s signature, they left the ship,” it said in a statement.
Taipei’s coastguard dispatched staff who arrived soon after their Chinese counterparts had left the cruise ship, which carried 11 crew members and 23 passengers.
They “accompanied the ship all the way back to Shuitou Port” in Quemoy, the coastguard said, urging China “to uphold peace and rationality”.
Beijing vows regular patrols in waters where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase
Beijing vows regular patrols in waters where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council – which handles issues regarding Beijing – also announced late Monday that the families of the detained Chinese crew members involved in the capsizing are expected to arrive in Quemoy on Tuesday.
The Straits Exchange Foundation – a semi-official Taiwanese body handling that handles technical and business affairs with mainland China – said permits were issued on Monday to the families.
The foundation “will also send personnel to Kinmen to provide humanitarian care to the mainland family members who will arrive in Kinmen on February 20 and assist them in handling the aftermath,” it said.
The February 14 incident took place against a backdrop of heightened tensions between mainland China and Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.
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Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit
Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and in recent years ramped up the rhetoric of “unification”.
It has stepped up military pressures on Taiwan by deploying warplanes and naval vessels around the island on a near-daily basis.
Taiwan also recently had a presidential election in January which saw the win of Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te – a candidate Beijing considers a “separatist”.
