Taiwan says China told Taiwan's coast guard to not interfere in the detention of Taiwanese boat crew
https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-fishing-boat-b12d19c8ebd37924ad6807d92600f3fc
Taiwan says China told Taiwan’s coast guard to not interfere in the detention of Taiwanese boat crew
BY CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
Updated 1:22 AM EDT, July 3, 2024
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan said Wednesday that China warned Taiwan’s coast guard against interfering in the detention of a Taiwanese fishing boat, in what is seen as Beijing’s latest attempt to encroach on Taiwanese territory.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions following the election of President William Lai Ching-te, whose party rejects unification with the mainland, and an apparent threat by Beijing to execute supporters of Taiwanese independence.
Taiwan’s coast guard repeated its call for the release of the boat and its crew members who were taken from waters off the Taiwanese-controlled island of Kinmen just off the Chinese coast on Tuesday night. That call is complicated by China’s refusal to communicate with Taiwan’s government.
A spokesperson for Taiwan’s coast guard, Hsieh Ching-chin, said the boat was not in Chinese waters when it was boarded by Chinese agents and steered to a port in the Chinese province of Fujian.
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