Taiwanese official watchdog blames coastguard for deaths of mainland Chinese fishermen

Taiwanese official watchdog blames coastguard for deaths of mainland Chinese fishermen

Taiwan’s government watchdog has criticised the island’s coastguard for “serious lapses” in a deadly incident involving a mainland Chinese boat. The February 14 incident resulted in the deaths of two fishermen whose boat capsized while being pursued by the Taiwanese coastguard near Quemoy, a Taipei-controlled outpost also known as Kinmen, a few kilometres from the … Read more

Mainland China returns Taiwanese fishing boat and 4 crew; captain held for investigation

Mainland China returns Taiwanese fishing boat and 4 crew; captain held for investigation

Mainland Chinese authorities returned a Taiwanese fishing boat seized in July and released four of its crew but a fifth person remains under investigation, as the two sides further attempt to solve a series of fishery-related disputes that started in February. According to Beijing’s state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday, Fujian Coast Guard repatriated four of … Read more

5 months after fishermen deaths off Quemoy, can Beijing and Taiwan put tragedy to rest?

5 months after fishermen deaths off Quemoy, can Beijing and Taiwan put tragedy to rest?

While the talks scheduled for Wednesday on Quemoy were postponed because of Typhoon Gaemi, Taiwanese media reports and Beijing’s latest tone on the tragedy have signalled signs of progress. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Office said that the family members of the deceased and the mainland delegation could not arrive as scheduled because all marine transport had … Read more

Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese coastguards in tense stand-off near Quemoy

Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese coastguards in tense stand-off near Quemoy

The mainland Chinese and Taiwanese coastguards have been involved in a tense stand-off near Quemoy, the latest flare-up near the Taiwan-controlled island also known as Kinmen. The incident came after four coastguard ships from mainland China were patrolling in waters just 5 nautical miles from the island’s defence outpost, according to the Taiwanese coastguard. It … Read more

Mainland China tightens squeeze on Taiwan as new flight routes close to key dividing line add to pressure on air defences

Mainland China tightens squeeze on Taiwan as new flight routes close to key dividing line add to pressure on air defences

“The [routes] will be launched as soon as they are ready,” Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday. Once launched, mainland planes could more easily stay over the line, a move analysts said would put more strain on the island’s air defences because of the need to distinguish between military … Read more