Advertisement
Taiwan
ChinaMilitary

Taiwan’s concerns grow over Quemoy waters as mainland China steps up ‘normal’ patrols

  • Taiwanese authorities warn off several mainland coastguard vessels amid worries incident could spark stand-off
  • Mainland coastguard announced strengthened patrols on Friday following a series of fishing incidents

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
Beijing’s increased patrols near Quemoy were part of its “systematic use of grey zone [non-military] tactics to undermine the sovereignty” of the island, according to a Taipei -based think tank. Photo: Reuters
Lawrence Chungin Taipei

The “normalising” of patrols by mainland China’s coastguard in waters around Quemoy has raised concerns in Taiwan over Beijing’s attempt to justify its jurisdiction over the narrow waterway.

Advertisement
Eight mainland Chinese coastguard vessels sailed into the waters near Quemoy – a Taiwanese defence outpost close to the mainland city of Xiamen – on Friday and Saturday to perform what Beijing described as “normal” and “regular law enforcement” patrol missions.

The move came after the mainland coastguard announced on Friday it would step up patrols around Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, following a series of fishing incidents.

They included the deaths of two mainland fishermen who had been on board an unregistered speedboat trying to evade the island’s coastguard after the boat entered the waters near Quemoy on February 14. In a separate mishap blamed on bad weather, two other fishermen died and two others were missing after their boat capsized on Thursday in the same area.

The mainland coastguard said on Friday that its patrols were legal that it would “continue to step up patrols to protect the legitimate rights and interests, safety and property of Chinese fishermen, including those from Taiwan”.

Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office also said the increased patrols were a “normal act” as “Taiwan is a part of China and regular law enforcement in waters near Quemoy is the duty of the mainland coastguard”.

Advertisement

The TAO accused the government of Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party for the “trampling of human life” and “failing to repent” over the fatal boat pursuit incident.

00:00

War scarred bunkers on Quemoy reflect the islands’ frontline role in Taiwan Strait tension

War scarred bunkers on Quemoy reflect the islands’ frontline role in Taiwan Strait tension
Advertisement