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Taiwan Dismisses China’s Complaints Over Naval Collision
Incident in the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo dismissed China’s complaints regarding a collision between a Taiwan navy ship and a Chinese trawler in the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized that Taiwan would continue its military exercises despite Beijing’s objections.
China’s Reaction
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the actions of the Taiwanese landing ship as “wicked,” following the collision near Taichung. Taiwan, however, maintained that the incident did not take place in “restricted” waters.
Taiwan’s Response
Speaking to reporters, Defence Minister Koo stated, “The Taiwan Affairs Office always says things like this. I can only say that we will carry out the drills we should be carrying out.” When asked if the Chinese fishing boat was spying on Taiwan’s navy, he replied that it was “not really possible” for such a vessel to gather detailed military intelligence.
Investigation Underway
Both China and Taiwan have launched investigations into the incident, which occurred on the Taiwan side of the median line in the strait. Taiwan’s coast guard is leading the probe, and Koo declined to speculate on the cause or assign blame. Notably, there were no casualties reported.
Strategic Implications
The Taiwan Strait sees frequent military activity from both sides, though they generally maintain a respectful distance. Chieh Chung, a researcher at the Association of Strategic Foresight in Taipei, suggested that China might use this incident to justify crossing the median line more frequently and sending coast guard vessels to protect its fishermen. This could serve to further assert Beijing’s claims over the waterway.
Rising Tensions
China continues to conduct military drills around Taiwan as part of its broader pressure campaign. Taiwan, in response, rejects China’s sovereignty claims and criticizes Beijing’s coercive tactics.
China’s “Separatist” Watchlist
Amidst rising tensions, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office published a list of alleged “separatists,” encouraging people to report their activities. Taiwan Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang, who topped the list, dismissed the move, stating, “I think our friends at the Taiwan Affairs Office have been very rude about our officials.”
Conclusion
As China and Taiwan continue to assert their positions, this latest incident adds another layer of complexity to an already strained relationship. Analysts warn that national security units should closely monitor the situation to prevent further escalation.
“Taiwan Dismisses China’s Complaints Over Naval Collision” “Taiwan Dismisses China’s Complaints Over Naval Collision” “Taiwan Dismisses China’s Complaints Over Naval Collision”