By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Thursday accused Taiwan of “driving away a fishing boat” that capsized and resulted in the death of two people, state media reported.
Taiwan said the boat was asked to “submit to an inspection, but it resisted” and “sped away” from near Kinmen Islands, a group of islets in the Taiwan Strait that are governed by Taipei.
Zhu Fenglian, the spokesperson of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, “strongly condemned” the Taiwan authorities over the issue.
The boat from China's eastern Fujian province was found on Wednesday by the Taiwanese Coast Guard in the waters near Kinmen.
When the four people aboard the unnamed boat were asked for inspection, they sped away, according to Taiwanese authorities.
“The malignant incident severely harmed the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits during the Spring Festival,” said Zhu.
China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949, enjoying full diplomatic relations with 12 nations.
"We warn the relevant parties in Taiwan to respect the historical fact that fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Straits operate in the traditional fishing areas of the Taiwan Straits and ensure the personal safety of mainland fishermen, effectively preventing the recurrence of such incidents," said Zhu, urging Taipei to “immediately investigate the incident.”
According to Taiwanese authorities, the four people aboard the boat were rescued and rushed to a hospital where two of them were pronounced dead.
The two others are being investigated.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it detected 21 Chinese aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan.
It added: “14 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).”
China neither recognizes the median line nor the ADIZ.