Beijing has issued a stark warning after two Chinese fishermen drowned while being chased by Taiwan’s coastguard in waters controlled by the self-governed island.
A Chinese speedboat carrying four people capsized on Wednesday as it was pursued by a Taiwanese boat, killing two on board.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported that the other two are in stable condition and have been brought to the Kinmen archipelago, where the incident took place, for “further investigation by prosecutors”.
China has blasted Taiwan for the “malignant incident”, which took place off just a few miles of China’s Fujian coast.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan affairs office, said in a statement: The malignant incident severely harmed the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan strait.”
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She accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of “using various excuses to forcefully seize Chinese fishing vessels and using violent and dangerous methods against Chinese fishermen”.
The waters are currently under Taipei’s control despite being just a few miles from the Chinese archipelago.
According to the CNA, the Chinese speedboat had “illegally [entered] Taiwanese waters”.
The Taiwanese coastguard “immediately requested that the boat submit to an inspection, but it resisted and capsized as it sped away”.
But as it stands, Taiwan is an independently governed state.
Tensions soared to new heights last month after the island elected a new president whom Beijing views as a “separatist” and a “troublemaker”.
It issued a statement following his election that “Taiwan is part of China”, warning that the democratic contest was a choice between “war and peace”.
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