2024-02-24 10:56:36
BEIJING = Hiroki Ishii – Two people were killed when a Chinese fishing boat capsized during a crackdown by authorities near Taiwan’s remote island of Kinmen this month. The Chinese government condemned Taiwan’s response and announced that it would make patrols by the Coast Guard the norm. It appears that they are trying to use the accident as an opportunity to change the status quo regarding Taiwan’s jurisdiction.
◆ Taiwan’s rule was supposed to be a “tacit agreement”
According to the Taiwan Coast Guard (equivalent to the Japan Coast Guard), at around 1:45 p.m. on the 14th (2:45 p.m. Japan time), a fishing boat was caught fishing without a permit in the waters of Kinmen Island, which Taiwan has designated as prohibited waters. discovery. A fishing boat accidentally capsized during the crackdown. Four people fell, two of whom died.
Taiwan Coast Guard officers inspect a capsized fishing boat near Kinmen Island, Taiwan on the 14th (Photo provided by Taiwan Coast Guard, AP)
A spokesperson for China’s State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (Kuotaiban) criticized the Democratic Progressive Party’s authorities for dealing with Chinese fishermen in a harsh and dangerous manner. A survivor who returned home claimed in an interview with Chinese media, “The (Marine Patrol) ship hit us directly and our ship capsized.” The Marine Police Station also held a press conference on the 22nd, acknowledging the collision and announcing its intention to pay compensation following an investigation.
Kinmen Island is under the effective control of Taiwan, which has established a prohibited zone as its de facto territorial sea. This has been functioning as a “tacit understanding” between China and Taiwan, but a spokesperson for Guotaiban turned to denying Taiwan’s jurisdiction, saying, “There is no so-called prohibited zone.”
China’s Coast Guard has conducted patrols every day since the 19th in the waters surrounding Kinmen Island and the Matsu Islands, both of which are close to China. On the 19th, a patrol boat from the Japan Coast Guard boarded a Taiwanese pleasure boat that was sailing around Kinmen Island and conducted an inspection for regarding 30 minutes.
As Vice President Lai Ching-toku of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which maintains a distance from China, is scheduled to take office as president in May, Taiwanese media are reporting that China has political intentions to put pressure on the new government. Introducing the views of experts. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has called for dialogue between China and Taiwan to reduce the risk of conflict, and this expert said, “China is also trying to maintain tensions, but it appears that they will not let the China-Taiwan issue escalate.” Analyzing.
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