Four surviving Chinese fishermen from capsized fishing boat return home
Chinese state media claims Taiwan is responsible, citing experts
China’s official Xinhua News Agency and Global Times reported on the 21st that two fishermen who survived a ship capsize incident that occurred while fishing in waters near Kinmen Island in Taiwan returned to China.
According to reports, the two fishermen who survived this incident left Kinmen Island and returned to China the day before with representatives of the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) branch in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province.
RCSC representatives boarded a ship bound for Kinmen, a few kilometers away from Xiamen City, Fujian Province, at 9:20 a.m. on the same day and escorted six fishermen families. The bereaved families of the two fishermen who died in this incident visited the funeral home in Jinmen Island to confirm their remains and identities.
This incident occurred when a Chinese fishing boat that entered the waters near Kinmen Island failed to comply with an inspection by the Taiwan Maritime Police and fled while capsizing. During this process, four sailors fell into the sea. Marine Corps crews rescued them and transported them to Kinmen Hospital, but two died.
Then, on the 19th, the conflict continued, with a Chinese coast guard ship forcibly searching a Taiwanese cruise ship operating in the northwest waters of Kinmen Island and Wusajiao. There were 34 passengers and crew on board the cruise ship, and six Chinese Coast Guard officers disembarked after 34 minutes in the cabin after examining the operation plan, ship certificate, and captain/crew certificate.
In response, Zhu Penglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Chinese government’s Taiwan affairs department, said in a statement, “We strongly condemn Taiwan for such a malicious incident,” and “Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities are using various excuses to block mainland fishing boats.” They protested, criticizing, “We investigated and captured them and treated mainland fishermen in a violent and dangerous manner.”
In addition, the Chinese Coast Guard is mobilizing coast guard ships to strengthen patrols in nearby waters.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media is also joining in the criticism by citing experts. The view is that fishermen from both sides have traditionally fished in the relevant waters, and since there is no legal ‘territory under Taiwan’s jurisdiction’, there were no problems with the fishermen’s fishing. It is also explained that strengthening patrols in the relevant sea area is a legal procedure.
Jang Won-seong, deputy director of Xiamen University’s Taiwan Research Institute, said, “Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities’ attitude toward mainland Chinese fishermen is very unfriendly and hostile,” and added, “They have neither the ability nor the will to resolve the cross-Strait fishing dispute, and are just shifting responsibility to mainland China.” It was pointed out through the Times.
“If the Democratic Progressive Party authorities choose a confrontational stance and do not restrain themselves, mainland China has many options to respond,” said Hsin Chang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University. “If we show basic respect, the risk of cross-strait friction will be reduced,” he said.
[베이징=뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.