Amid heightened tension in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan has dispatched coast guard boats to aid in a rescue mission at China’s request following a fishing vessel capsizing near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands. China’s claim over Taiwan, which the latter vehemently opposes, has led to increased military activities near the island, including frequent incursions into air defense identification zones.
The rescue effort was initiated after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized in the early hours, resulting in two individuals missing, two rescued, and two bodies retrieved, according to Taiwan’s coast guard. Coast guard chief Chou Mei-wu stated that such cooperation requests from Chinese authorities are common, with numerous successful rescue operations conducted in the past few years.
Recognizing the significance of collaboration in the narrow waters surrounding the Kinmen-Xiamen area, Taiwan deployed four coast guard vessels, while China contributed six to the rescue effort.
Recent incidents, including China’s coast guard patrols around the Kinmen islands and a fatal encounter involving Chinese nationals fleeing Taiwanese authorities, have further escalated tensions. However, despite these challenges, both sides engaged in coordinated rescue efforts near Dongding island, with Taiwan’s armed forces also joining the operation.
While Taiwan’s Kinmen defense command noted that it had not received any request from Chinese authorities to search the island, it affirmed its commitment to hand over any survivors found to the coast guard.
In response to previous incidents, Taiwan’s top China policy-making body emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo and urged China to refrain from sending coast guard boats into restricted areas. This stance underscores Taiwan’s commitment to managing tensions and preserving stability the region.
