Chinese officials seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China’s coast close to a Taiwan-controlled island, escalating tensions between the two nations, Taiwan‘s coast guard reported late on Tuesday. The boat was boarded near the Kinmen islands, situated next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou, and taken to a Chinese port.
Taiwan’s coast guard dispatched its own ships to assist and issued warnings to China to release the boat.However, Chinese ships warned Taiwan not to interfere, prompting Taiwan’s vessels to back off to avoid conflict. A senior Taiwanese official, speaking anonymously, said that the boat entered Chinese waters during China’s no-fishing period and that Taiwan would communicate with China to seek the fishermen’s release.
A senior Taiwan official briefed on the situation told Reuters the Taiwanese boat entered Chinese waters and operated during China’s no-fishing period, adding Taiwan will communicate with China and urge them to release the fishermen as soon as possible.
China views Taiwan as its territory and has increased pressure on Taipei since President Lai Ching-te took office in May. The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Regular operations by Chinese maritime enforcement and coast guard ships around Kinmen have been ongoing since February, following the deaths of two Chinese fishermen trying to flee Taiwan’s coast guard.