Taiwan calls on China to show restraint after fatal boat accident in Taiwan Strait

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Taiwan's coast guard pursued the Chinese fishing boat in the Taiwan Strait

Photo: AFP

The death of two Chinese fishermen in the strait between China and Taiwan has further deteriorated relations between the two countries. Taiwan Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen appealed to both sides to prevent fishing boats from illegally entering protected waters.

The dispute between Beijing and Taipei was triggered by the capsizing of a Chinese fishing boat near the Taiwanese island of Kinmen last Wednesday, in which two fishermen died. According to Taiwanese sources, the boat crew tried to evade coast guard inspection and their boat capsized during the subsequent pursuit. Two sailors were rescued.

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”.

China speaks of a “malicious incident”

The Chinese Office for Taiwan Affairs spoke of a "malicious incident" after the boat capsized and called for clarification. Spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian on Monday called on Taiwan to cooperate in the case. Relatives of the surviving sailors now arrived in Kinmen to pick them up.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the military would not interfere and would leave surveillance 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.”

After the accident, China increased its coast guard presence 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 sovereignty.

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and threatens 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. Almost every day, Chinese fighter jets cross the unofficial median line in the strait as a show of force. Beijing has already announced several times that it will force reunification with Taiwan using military means if necessary.

czl/dpa/AFP