Tension between China and Taiwan after deadly boat chase
An incident in the Taiwan Strait has led to increased tensions between China and Taiwan, AFP reports. It was last week that two Chinese nationals died after their boat was pursued by the Taiwanese Coast Guard. Two more people who ended up in the water were temporarily detained in Kinmen – a territory administered by Taiwan.
According to Taiwan, the Chinese boat was in prohibited waters. China has said it will increase its presence in the area, and on Monday Chinese coast guards boarded a tourist boat from Taiwan.
The boat incident last week should be seen against the background of the fact that the disagreement between China and Taiwan has already increased after the Taiwanese presidential election in January. The winner, Lai Ching-Te, has been branded a separatist by Beijing.
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China: Taiwan hides the truth about the deaths
China accuses authorities in Taiwan of "trying to evade their obligations and hide the truth", AFP reports. The statement comes after the incident in the Taiwan Strait that resulted in the death of two Chinese nationals.
- We demand that the relevant parties in Taiwan make the truth public as soon as possible, says a spokesperson for Chinese authorities.
It was on February 14 that the Taiwanese coast guard followed a Chinese boat whereupon it capsized and the people on board ended up in the water.
One of those who survived the incident has reportedly claimed that the boat was rammed, but Taiwan denies the allegations.
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Analysis: China's coast guard sparks panic in Taiwan
The Chinese Coast Guard's actions after the deadly boat incident in the Taiwan Strait last week have caused panic among Taiwanese residents, writes CNN's Nectar Gan in an analysis.
The Coast Guard has marked its presence in the controversial waters by, among other things, boarding and inspecting a tourist boat.
The tensions between the countries are testing Taiwan's newly elected President Lai Ching-Te, according to Gan. The president, a strong advocate of Taiwanese sovereignty, must now address Beijing's actions.
Analysts spoken to by Voice of America, a US state radio network, describe China's escalation as an attempt to challenge the "status quo" in the disputed strait.
Ian Chong of the University of Singapore says that China is deviating from its past actions in relation to Taiwan. Beijing has never before given up on Taiwan's control over the areas that are now the scene of the conflict.
Chong believes China will continue its "gray zone" activities in the coming months to put extra pressure on Lai Ching-Te, who will take office in three months.
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