After months of negotiation, Taiwan and China have “reached an agreement” on how to respond to the deaths of two Chinese fishermen following a sea chase by Taiwan’s coastguard, Taipei announced. The settlement involves compensation to the victims’ families and the repatriation of their bodies to China, according to reports. However, Taiwan’s coastguard has declined to share further details.
Reducing Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
The agreement aims to reduce tensions in the sensitive Taiwan Strait, which Beijing claims as its own. The incident in question occurred in February when a fishing boat, carrying four Chinese fishermen, trespassed into Taiwanese waters off the Kinmen archipelago and resisted inspection. The boat capsized during the chase by Taiwanese authorities, leading to the drowning of two fishermen.
Incident Details and Reactions
Following the incident, China condemned it as “malicious” and initiated regular patrols around Taiwan’s Kinmen archipelago to “maintain operational order in sea areas and safeguard fishermen’s lives and property.” Kinmen, Taiwan’s northernmost archipelago, lies just 3 kilometers from China, making the waters a hotspot for such encounters.
Taiwan has been strictly enforcing its waters in recent years due to a significant increase in poaching by fishermen from China’s coastal Fujian province. In response, the Taiwanese coastguard has defended its actions and called on Beijing to “restrain similar behaviors” in its waters.
Statements and Apologies
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s coast guard director, Chang Chung-lung, apologized to the victims’ families “for the suffering [they have] endured” and for “not recording evidence in this case.” Both sides have committed to “actively implement the agreed consensus as quickly as possible,” said Hsieh Chin-chin, deputy director-general of the coastguard administration.
“We respect the families and the content of the consensus, so we are unable to provide further details,” Hsieh added. A spokesman for Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council revealed that the compensation will be paid by private donors, emphasizing that it does not impact the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Beijing’s Response
Beijing has expressed hope that Taiwan will “actively implement the terms of the agreement to provide peace of mind to the victims and offer an explanation to their families.” The agreement marks a step towards easing the heightened tensions in the region and ensuring better cooperation in managing cross-strait incidents.
