In a further escalation of tensions between China and Taiwan, Chinese officials seized a Taiwanese fishing boat near China’s coast, close to a Taiwan-controlled island. The incident occurred late on Tuesday when the Taiwanese squid fishing boat was operating near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands. These islands are situated next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou but were within Chinese waters at the time of the incident. The Taiwanese coast guard reported that two Chinese maritime administration boats boarded and seized the vessel, subsequently escorting it to a Chinese port.
The incident has heightened already strained relations as China considers democratically governed Taiwan part of its territory. Beijing has increased pressure on Taipei since May when President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels as a “separatist,” took office. The Taiwanese coast guard noted that the boat was operating during China’s no-fishing period, which likely contributed to the seizure. Taiwan has pledged to communicate with China to secure the fishermen’s release as swiftly as possible.
The response from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office was not immediate. In the meantime, Taiwan dispatched its own coast guard ships to assist and issued warnings for the release of the fishing boat. However, Chinese ships responded with warnings not to interfere. To avoid further conflict, Taiwanese ships retreated, allowing the Chinese to take the fishing vessel to port. Among the five fishermen on board, three were identified as Indonesian migrant workers.
Deputy Director-General of Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Hsieh Ching-chin, demanded that China explain the seizure, noting that in previous similar incidents, fishermen were typically released after paying fines for operating during the no-fishing season. He urged Taiwanese fishing boats to increase their alert levels and confirmed that the coast guard would bolster its patrols. Hsieh also called on Chinese authorities to avoid politicizing the situation.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the body responsible for China policy, announced plans to contact Chinese authorities to seek an explanation and prevent unnecessary speculation. Meanwhile, Judha Nugraha, director for citizen protection at Indonesia’s foreign ministry, stated that the consulate general in Guangzhou would assist the detained Indonesian fishermen.
This incident is not isolated, as Taiwanese fishing boats have previously been seized by Chinese authorities for operating in Chinese waters. A Taiwan official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, revealed that alerts had been issued to fishing and transport authorities around Taiwan, advising them to be vigilant due to frequent Chinese coast guard activities in the region, including areas near Japan and the Philippines. The official noted that it is not uncommon for Taiwan and China to detain each other’s fishing boats for trespassing. So far this year, Taiwan has detained five such boats from China, according to Taiwan coast guard data.
Chinese maritime enforcement and coast guard ships have been active around Kinmen since February, following an incident where two Chinese fishermen died trying to escape Taiwan’s coast guard. The current seizure underscores the ongoing maritime tensions and the delicate geopolitical balance in the region.
