China seized a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Dajinman 88, near the Kinmen archipelago, an area under Taiwan’s control but close to the Chinese coast.
Kabul 24: The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the Taiwanese vessel was intercepted by two Chinese coast guard ships. Taiwan dispatched its own ships to try to rescue the boat, but they were blocked by the Chinese vessels and told not to interfere.
To avoid escalating the situation, Taiwan’s coast guard ceased the pursuit, and the Dajinman 88 was taken to a Chinese port. The boat had six crew members, including the Taiwanese captain and five migrant workers.
Taiwan has urged China to promptly release the vessel and its crew, condemning the incident as “political maneuvering” that damages cross-strait relations. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has been increasing pressure on the self-ruled island, including through expanded coast guard patrols around the Kinmen islands.
The waters near Kinmen are a traditional fishing ground for Taiwanese vessels, and tensions have risen due to the growing presence of Chinese ships in the area. In February, a Chinese fishing boat capsized near Kinmen, leading China to announce it would strengthen patrols in the region
