The Chinese government has confirmed that there are no borders or no-fishing zones around a group of Taiwanese islands near the coast of China and that Beijing reserves the right to take further action after the deaths of two Chinese nationals near the islands.
Last Thursday, Taiwan defended the actions of the Coast Guard after two people died on board a Chinese speedboat that came very close to a Taiwanese island on the front lines when their boat capsized while they were trying to escape from a Coast Guard ship, and two others survived.
Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, has complained in the past few years about Chinese fishing boats and other vessels operating in Taiwan-controlled waters, especially around the Kinmen and Matsu Islands, which are located a short distance from China’s coast.
‘Extreme indignation’
Late on Saturday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, which has already condemned Taipei over the incident near Beding Island in Kinmen, said the killing of the two people had caused “severe indignation” in China.
“Fishermen on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been working in traditional fishing grounds in the Xiamen-Kinmen Marine Area since ancient times, and there is no such thing as prohibited or closed waters,” he added.
Kinmen, which has been controlled by Taiwan since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, is located next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said the government has good will toward the people of Taiwan, but will never tolerate Taiwan’s disregard for the safety of Chinese fishermen.
“The mainland reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan will bear all consequences,” he added, without elaborating.
#Bilad #newspaper #China #restricted #areas #Taiwanese #islands #people #killed
