Taipei city government said on Monday that Chinese Coast Guard officers had boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat near Taiwanese-administered islands adjacent to the Chinese coast, amid rising tensions after China announced it would carry out regular patrols. He announced that he had ridden it for a short time.
China announced on Sunday that two Chinese nationals on the run from Taiwan’s coast guard were killed after entering prohibited waters too close to Kinmen, which is located on the opposite coast of China’s Xiamen and Quanzhou cities. announced that it would strengthen its law enforcement activities.
The Taiwan Coast Guard said in a statement that six China Coast Guard officers boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 11 crew members and 23 passengers late Monday afternoon to check route plans, certificates and crew licenses. announced that it had departed approximately 30 minutes later.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard reportedly saw two Chinese Coast Guard ships approaching the tourist boat, and dispatched its own boat to accompany the tour boat back to the port on the main island of Kinmen.
Japan reports sightings of Chinese warships along disputed border
According to Taiwan’s coast guard, the Taiwanese tourist boat “leaned” toward China during its passage due to shallow water.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel sails near a Philippine ship (R) that was part of a convoy of civilian boats in the disputed South China Sea on December 10, 2023. This week, the Chinese Coast Guard briefly boarded a Taiwanese vessel to confirm its safety. After announcing a commitment to stricter security, it will announce authentication, route planning, and more. (Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images)
There was no immediate comment from the China Coast Guard, and contact details were not made public.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard said it called on China to “observe peace and rationality” in the waters around Kinmen Island and asked people to stay away from Chinese waters.
A senior Taiwanese official briefed on the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters that President Tsai Ing-wen was given real-time updates as the situation developed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Chinese Coast Guard inspecting Taiwanese vessels was a scenario that Taiwanese security officials had long feared, the official added.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office referred questions to the Coast Guard.
The Chinese government announced on Saturday that there will be no restricted or restricted areas for Chinese fishermen around Kinmen Island.
Kinmen Island has been ruled by Taipei since 1949, when the defeated Republic of China government defected to Taiwan after losing a civil war with the communists led by Mao Zedong, who established the People’s Republic of China.
Kinmen Island, the site of frequent fighting during the height of the Cold War, is now a popular tourist destination, although much of the island is heavily fortified by Taiwan’s military and is off-limits to civilians. is prohibited.
