Taiwan Coast Guard/AP
The Taiwanese Coast Guard inspects a vessel that capsized during a chase off the coast of Kinmen Island, Taiwan, on February 14, 2024.
CNN
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Two Chinese fishermen drowned off the coast of Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands while being chased by the Taiwan Coast Guard for trespassing.
According to the coast guard, an unidentified mainland Chinese vessel entered within about a nautical mile off the coast of Kinmen Island, which is closer to mainland China than Taiwan.
The boat capsized during the escape, and four crew members fell into the sea.
“A coastal patrol vessel rescued two crew members and found two other crew members unconscious at sea,” the Coast Guard said in a statement Wednesday.The two unconscious crew members were taken to a hospital. He added that he was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital.
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China’s Taiwan Affairs Office strongly condemned the death and called on Taiwanese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Although the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled the autonomous democratic nation of Taiwan, it considers it part of its territory, and due to its geographical proximity, ships from mainland China frequently pass through the waters near Kinmen. is active in
In a statement about the fisherman’s death, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said: “Such a vicious incident comes at a time when mainland Taiwan and mainland China celebrate the Lunar New Year. “It really hurt my feelings,” he said. China and Taiwan.
It also accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of being the main cause of the incident, claiming that it “used various pretexts to forcibly seize mainland fishing boats and treat mainland fishermen roughly and dangerously.” did.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Bureau said the incident was under investigation and the two rescued crew members were taken to Kinmen Island.
The Coast Guard said it would contact the fishermen’s families through official channels.