A Taiwanese fishing boat was operating near the Kinmen islands on Tuesday night when it was seized by Chinese maritime authorities. The Kinmen Islands are controlled by Taiwan but are located close to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou.
The incident happened when the fishing boat was approached and boarded by two Chinese maritime administration boats. Taiwan’s coast guard reported the seizure and immediately responded by sending its ships to assist the fishing boat.
They also broadcasted warnings to the Chinese authorities, urging them to release the fishing boat.
Responding, the Chinese ships warned the Taiwanese coast guard not to interfere. To prevent any escalation or conflict, the Taiwanese coast guard ships backed off. After this, the Chinese maritime boats took the Taiwanese fishing vessel to a Chinese port.
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The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China, especially around the Kinmen islands. Since February, Chinese maritime enforcement and coast guard ships have been frequently operating in the area.
This increased presence followed an incident where two Chinese fishermen died while trying to flee from Taiwan’s coast guard.
Attempts to contact China’s Taiwan Affairs Office for comments were unsuccessful, as no one responded outside of office hours. The seizure of the fishing boat adds to the strained relations between Taiwan and China, with both sides showing a strong maritime presence around disputed areas.
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