BEIJING: China’s Taiwan Affairs Office asserted the right of fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to operate in traditional fishing grounds near Taiwan’s Kinmen islands, following an incident where two Chinese nationals died near the islands.
The incident occurred when a Chinese speedboat, reportedly nearing a front-line Taiwanese island, capsized while attempting to evade a Taiwanese coast guard ship. While two individuals survived, two tragically lost their lives.
Expressing “strong indignation” over the incident, China emphasized the historical fishing activities in the Xiamen-Kinmen maritime area. It condemned Taiwan for disregarding the safety of Chinese fishermen and warned of potential further measures, with Taiwan bearing the consequences.
Kinmen, under Taiwan’s control since 1949, sits adjacent to China’s Xiamen and Quanzhou cities. Once a site of conflict during the Cold War, it is now a tourist destination, albeit with certain military-restricted areas.
The Chinese government’s stance reflects ongoing tensions, with Taiwan accusing China of employing “grey-zone warfare” tactics in the region. In response, China maintains its position on fishing rights and asserts its sovereignty claims over the area.
Meanwhile, low-level Chinese officials from Shanghai arrived in Taipei for the Lantern Festival, invited by the city government. However, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an declined to meet the delegation, reflecting underlying diplomatic tensions between the two sides.
