Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Taiwan's frontline Kinmen Islands on Monday, a Taiwanese minister told reporters on Tuesday, amid escalating tensions with Beijing.
Ted Algibi | AFP | Getty Images
Five Chinese Coast Guard ships entered restricted or restricted waters around Taiwan's frontline Kinmen Islands on Monday, a Taiwanese minister told reporters on Tuesday, amid escalating tensions with Beijing.
This month, the Chinese Coast Guard began regular patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, which are close to China's shores, after two Chinese nationals died while trying to flee from the Taiwanese Coast Guard after their boat entered restricted waters.
Quan Pei-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, told reporters that the Chinese boats left the area shortly after the Taiwan Coast Guard asked them to leave.
Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, is concerned about efforts by Beijing to increase pressure on Taipei after the election last month of Lai Ching-tei, a man Beijing considers a “dangerous separatist” as president.
Last week, six Chinese Coast Guard officers boarded a Taiwanese tour boat carrying a crew of 11 and 23 passengers to check its route plan, certification and crew licenses, then departed about half an hour later, the Taiwan Coast Guard said.
