A fatal maritime incident near the Kinmen islands has elevated tensions between Taipei and Beijing, leading to increased Chinese coast guard activity in the waters surrounding the Taiwan-administered archipelago. The situation developed after a Chinese speedboat capsized on Feb. 14 during a pursuit by Taiwan’s Coast Guard, an event that resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals.
According to a statement from Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the Chinese vessel was operating within what Taiwan defines as prohibited waters, approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Kinmen’s Beiding Island. The CGA reported that the boat attempted to evade inspection and capsized during the pursuit. Two other crew members were rescued by Taiwanese authorities and were later returned to mainland China.
In response, officials in Beijing disputed Taiwan’s account and its jurisdiction over the area. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, condemned the incident and stated that fishermen from both sides of the strait have traditionally operated in the waters around Xiamen and Kinmen. The office denied the existence of “prohibited or restricted waters” and called for an investigation and for Taiwan to release the detained crew members and their vessel.
Following the incident, the China Coast Guard announced it would conduct “regular law enforcement patrols” in the area. On Feb. 18, personnel from a Chinese coast guard vessel boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat near Kinmen for a brief inspection, a move Taiwan’s government described as creating “panic.”
Taiwan’s Premier Chen Chien-jen addressed the situation, stating that Taiwan’s government would act according to established procedures to de-escalate tensions. Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the coast guard, affirmed that Taiwan’s forces would continue to enforce regulations in its waters.
The Kinmen islands are a small archipelago administered by Taiwan but located just a few kilometers from the mainland Chinese city of Xiamen. The islands were the site of major military confrontations in the 1950s between the Republic of China, which governs Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China. In recent decades, the area has been relatively calm, with established transportation, trade, and communication links between Kinmen and Xiamen. Discussions between officials from both sides regarding the Feb. 14 incident and its aftermath are ongoing.
