Regarding the accident in which a Chinese fishing boat capsized during a crackdown by the Taiwanese authorities, killing two people, a senior Chinese government official in charge of Taiwan policy stated that the Chinese government would "absolutely not tolerate" the incident, and expressed pressure on Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party government. He showed signs of making it even stronger.
On the 29th, Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, which is in charge of Taiwan policy in the Chinese government, met with Xia Liyan, vice president of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, who visited Shanghai.
In this discussion, Mr. Song spoke about the incident on February 14 in which a Chinese fishing boat capsized while trying to escape from a crackdown by the Taiwanese authorities on the coast of Kinmen Island, a remote island in Taiwan near Fujian Province in southern China, resulting in the deaths of two people. "We will never tolerate this act, which devalues human life and undermines the legitimate rights and interests of fishermen on the continent," he said.
The fishing boat is said to have entered waters over Taiwan's jurisdiction without permission, but China continues to demand an apology from Taiwanese authorities and punishment of those in charge, and Minister Song's comments have increased the pressure. He showed signs of strengthening.
In addition, while Mr. Xia expressed the recognition that the will of the people in Taiwan basically rests with the Kuomintang, since although the Kuomintang lost the presidential election in January this year, it became the largest party in the parliament. ``We will work with the Nationalist Party to oppose ``Taiwan independence,'''' he said, indicating that he wanted to prevent the stable administration of the Democratic Progressive Party's next president, Kiyotoku Lai, who will take office in May.