Tension Rises as China Increases Patrols Near Taiwan

Defense News ,Taiwan :- The situation is getting more intense in the waters around Taiwan as China steps up patrols near islands controlled by Taiwan. This comes after two Chinese fishermen drowned while being chased by Taiwan's coast guard, who accused them of trespassing, according to CNN.

China's coast guard, specifically its Fujian division, announced on Sunday that it plans to strengthen maritime law enforcement and conduct regular patrols in the waters around Xiamen, China, and Taiwan's Kinmen islands. Gan Yu, a spokesperson for China's coast guard, explained that the goal is to "maintain order in the relevant waters and protect the lives and property of fishermen."

The decision to increase patrols raises concerns about the closer interaction between Chinese and Taiwanese coast guard vessels, potentially increasing the risk of misunderstandings and conflicts, as reported by CNN.

The recent escalation followed an incident where a Chinese speedboat capsized while trying to evade Taiwan's coast guard, claiming trespassing for fishing about 1 nautical mile off Kinmen's coast. Two crew members survived and were rescued by Taiwan's coast guard, while the other two were found unconscious and confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital in Kinmen.

China strongly condemned the incident, blaming Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for forcibly seizing mainland fishing boats and mistreating mainland fishermen. Taiwan authorities expressed regret over the deaths but maintained that their coast guard officers were acting within the bounds of the law.

In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law in the waters it controls, expelling or detaining trespassing vessels. The council disputed Beijing's accusations of "rough expulsions," attributing the incident to constant intrusions by unidentified ships lacking certification or port registration. The case is currently under investigation by Taiwanese prosecutors.

Kuan Bi-ling, Taiwan's Minister of Ocean Affairs Council, assured that the surviving fishermen under Taiwan's custody were being cared for and would be repatriated as the case progressed. Despite rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Kuan highlighted Taiwan's previous rescue efforts for mainland Chinese fishermen and cargo ships, emphasizing a humanitarian approach.

Over the past three years, Taiwan's coast guard has reportedly rescued 20 individuals from mainland China. China has been applying economic, military, and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan and has severed most communications with Taipei since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016. In previous years, during the more Beijing-friendly Kuomintang government's term, joint maritime drills were held for search and rescue operations, as reported by CNN.