Taiwanese Fishing Boat Seized by China Near the Coast, Beijing Says Not to Interfere

In accordance with claims made by Taiwan’s coast guard, Chinese officials had boarded and seized a Taiwanese fishing boat that operated near a Taiwan-operated island that was close to China’s coast late Tuesday. The boat was taken to a Chinese port, where it remains for now. The coast guard was also told by Chinese authorities to stand back against interfering with the detention of the boat.

The squid fishing boat was found near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands, and lies next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou. But the boat was in Chinese waters on Tuesday night when it was seized and boarded by two Chinese maritime administration boats. The coast guard also adds that the boat was operating during China’s no-fishing period and said that Taiwan would communicate with China in order to call for the immediate release of the fishermen. The calls, however, would be complicated owing to China’s refusal to cooperate or communicate with Taiwan’s government. China’s Taiwan affairs office did not provide any immediate comments on the matter.

The incident is perceived as the latest attempt at encroaching Taiwanese territory by China, which views democratically-run Taiwan as part of its own territory. Political tensions between the two countries have heightened following the election of President William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing views as a “separatist,” as he belongs to a party that rejects unification with China.

When Taiwan sent its own coast guard ships to assist and broadcast warnings to China, its ships responded back telling Taiwan not to interfere, said Taiwan’s coast guard. To avoid conflict, Taiwan then had its ships back off and the Taiwanese fishing vessel was taken to a Chinese port. Three of the five fishermen in custody were Indonesian migrant workers.

Hsieh Ching-chin, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General, told reporters that China must explain its seizure of the boat. He also pointed out that in previous cases, these fishermen had been released after being found operating during China’s no-fishing periods. Hsieh also added, “The coast guard also calls on the mainland side not to use political factors to handle this situation.”

China has been increasing its military action around Taiwan, especially around the island groups of Kinmen and Matsu, which are of visible range from China’s coast. Moreover, China’s daily dispatch of warplanes and navy ships, along with increased military exercises in the region, raises significant cause for concern. Last month, Beijing passed new injunctions that would allow them to execute “die-hard Taiwan independence separatists,” to which Taiwan responded by warning its citizens against traveling to the mainland and the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macao.

However, on Tuesday, a Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson claimed that the threat would only affect a small minority of Taiwanese and accused the ruling party of willful misinterpretations of their injunctions. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s primary China policy-making body, said that it will contact Chinese authorities to seek an explanation of what exactly occurred so as to avoid unnecessary speculation.

A Taiwan official familiar with the island’s security planning claims that they have issued alerts to fishing and transport authorities in case of “possible risks” amidst frequent Chinese coast guard activities in the region. However, it is not uncommon for China and Taiwan to detain each other’s trespassing boats. So far this year, Taiwan has detained five Chinese boats, according to Taiwan coast guard data.

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Senaara SonuNews Writer

Senaara Sonu is a creative and dynamic individual with a fervent passion for journalism, content creation, and marketing. Currently pursuing a major in these fields, Senaara is dedicated to honing her skills and expanding her knowledge base. Always striving for continuous improvement and excellence, she is committed to producing high-quality work and achieving outstanding results. With a proactive attitude and a keen eye for detail, Senaara is poised to make a significant impact in the world of media and communications.

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