Taiwan reports that a Taiwanese fishing vessel has been detained by China’s coast guard

Taiwan expressed concern after the Chinese coast guard boarded a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Tachinman 88, near the Kinmen archipelago and steered it to mainland China. The boat had six crew members, including the captain and five migrant workers. Taiwan dispatched three vessels to rescue the Tachinman 88, but was blocked by Chinese boats. To avoid escalating the conflict, Taiwan called off the pursuit. Taiwanese maritime authorities called on China to release the ship and crew, urging them to refrain from political manipulation and harming cross-strait relations. China claims Taiwan as its territory and regularly sends warplanes and ships toward the island. Tensions in the area have increased as the number of Chinese vessels near the Kinmen archipelago has risen. In February, two Chinese fishermen drowned while being chased by Taiwan’s Coast Guard, prompting Beijing to increase patrols in the waters. The incident underscores the ongoing territorial disputes and tensions between Taiwan and China, as well as the challenges faced by fishermen operating in the area.

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