A Chinese fishing boat was seized by Chinese authorities close to a Taiwan-controlled island, escalating tensions between the two countries, according to Taiwan’s coast guard’s late on Tuesday report. The ship was taken to a Chinese interface and boarded close to the Kinmen islands, which are located next to the Chinese places of Xiamen and Quanzhou.
Taiwan’s coastline guard sent its own submarines to help and issued instructions to China to launch the boat. Nevertheless, Chinese ships warned Taiwan not to impede, prompting Taiwan’s warships to back off to avoid conflict. A senior Chinese official, speaking secretly, said that the boat entered Taiwanese waters during China’s no- fishing period and that Taiwan would speak with China to get the fishermen’s release.
Taiwan will speak with China and demand that they release the fishermen as soon as possible, according to a top Taiwan official who was informed of the situation. The boat entered Taiwanese waters and operated there during the country’s no-fish period.
Since President Lai Ching-te took office in May, China has increased stress on Taipei because it views Taiwan as its place. The Taiwanese Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment right away. Since February, after the deaths of two Chinese fishing trying to flee Taiwan’s coast guard, regular operations by Taiwanese sea police and coast guard ships have been going on around Kinmen.
