China reaches deal with Taiwan on deaths of 2 fishermen

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - China and Taiwan reached an agreement Tuesday to compensate the families of two fishermen who died in February and repatriate their remains, according to the South China Morning Post.

"An agreement was reached during negotiations today, thanks to continuous efforts made by both sides of the Strait," Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin told reporters.

“Both sides will actively implement the agreement as soon as possible," he said.

The deal could tone down tensions in the sensitive Taiwan Strait and it ended months-long finger-pointing between the two sides that had not officially met to resolve the dispute since March.

The fishermen drowned after their boat capsized during a chase by the Taiwanese Coast Guard in waters off the Taiwanese defense outpost of Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, on Feb, 14.

Chinese and Taiwanese officials held 15 rounds of talks after the accident, however, negotiations stalled in March.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard had accused the fishermen of trespassing in restricted waters, but Beijing charged the island’s authorities with “rough dispersal of the fishing boat.”

China considers Taiwan its territory but the island insists on its independence.