On Tuesday night, China's coast guard detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel, Tachinman 88, and its five-member crew near the Kinmen islands, controlled by Taipei. The interception occurred just miles from the Chinese city of Xiamen. Taiwan's coast guard reported that the fishing boat was intercepted by two Chinese coast guard vessels and escorted to a nearby Chinese port. Despite a call for help, three Taiwan coast guard vessels retreated to avoid conflict when outnumbered by their Chinese counterparts.
The Taiwanese vessel was detained during an annual summer fishing ban imposed by China in May. The boat was operating 11.2 nautical miles from the mainland coast in China's territorial waters. Two Taiwanese and three Indonesian crew members were detained. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration demanded the immediate release of the boat and crew members, urging China not to engage in political manipulation that could harm cross-strait relations.
China's ruling Communist Party considers Taiwan its territory and has intensified pressure on Taipei since President Lai Ching-te's reelection in January. Tensions have escalated in the waters around Kinmen, with increased Chinese coast guard patrols following past incidents. In February, two Chinese fishermen drowned while being chased by Taiwan's coast guard, leading to heightened vigilance among fishermen in the region.
Taiwanese legislator Chen Yu-jen emphasized the need for caution in maritime activities, given the strained relations between both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted that the incident occurred in a traditional fishing area for fishermen from both sides and called for China to respect Taiwan's operational rights.
