Since Sunday, Beijing has deployed a flotilla of coast guard ships to patrol around the Kinmen, the islands controlled by Taiwan but a few miles off the coast of Fujian.
The move is a further measure taken in response to the February 14 accident that claimed the lives of two of the four Chinese on board a fishing vessel that had been rammed and overturned by a Taipei patrol boat engaged in a pursuit to prevent activities in an "illegal area". .
The Chinese coast guard, in a statement, explained that it had carried out tasks such as checking ships, protecting fishing vessels and issuing warnings during operations, the aim of which was "to strengthen the presence of law enforcement agencies and to protect safety". of fishermen".
The move followed an announcement on February 18 that Fujian authorities would increase patrols near Xiamen and Kinmen to "ensure orderly navigation."
According to observers, however, the fatal accident should be considered as an opportunity that allowed the People's Republic to increase pressure on Taiwan, considered a rebel province and an "inalienable" part of its territory to be reunified even by force, if necessary.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs also underlined the need to strengthen patrols during the peak fishing season to protect the lives and property of fishermen.
The Fujian Coast Guard Authority also conducted a comprehensive law enforcement exercise in waters near Xiamen and Kinmen on Sunday afternoon with the aim of testing the rapid response and emergency management capabilities of law enforcement vessels, according to the note from the Chinese coast guard.
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