Taipei: Taiwan and China have reached a resolution regarding the deaths of two Chinese fishermen in a maritime incident, following months of negotiations. This agreement could help alleviate tensions in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration announced that a settlement has been reached for the families of the fishermen, who perished while attempting to escape after their boat entered restricted waters.
“An agreement was reached during the negotiation today, thanks to continuous efforts made by both sides of the Strait,” said Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin during a press briefing in Kinmen. “Both sides will actively implement the agreement as soon as possible,” he added, noting a “good atmosphere” at the meeting. Hsieh’s remarks were broadcast live.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory despite strong objections from the island, has intensified its military presence near Taiwan in recent years, with frequent incursions into its air defense identification zones. Since February, China’s coast guard has conducted regular patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, following the fishermen’s deaths.
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Taiwan has recently responded to Chinese coast guard incursions into its restricted waters by driving away the intruding vessels. The island accuses China of employing “grey zone” tactics—strategies that fall short of outright conflict but are intended to test and pressure Taiwanese forces. This includes persistent patrols near Kinmen.
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In July, tensions escalated when Chinese officials boarded and seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China’s coast during a Chinese no-fishing period, taking it to a Chinese port.
