The coast guard of East China’s Fujian Province organizes a flotilla and conducts a law enforcement patrol in waters near Kinmen on February 25, 2024, the China Coast Guard said in a press release on the day. Photo: China Coast Guard

After the coast guard of East China's Fujian Province conducted a law enforcement patrol in waters near Kinmen in the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, the Taiwan authorities on Tuesday claimed that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels also entered the so-called "prohibited or restricted" waters near Kinmen on Monday. An observer noted that this indicates the normalization of regular law enforcement patrols in Xiamen-Kinmen waters by the mainland coast guard authorities, a move that is lawful and reasonable. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have no right to intervene.

Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's ocean affairs authority, said on Tuesday that a mainland coast guard vessel entered the "prohibited" waters off Kinmen and four mainland coast guard vessels entered the "restricted" waters on Monday, media on the island reported on Tuesday.

After the February 14 incident in the waters near Kinmen, where a vessel of the Taiwan authorities aggressively chased and collided with a mainland fishing boat in waters unilaterally declared by the Taiwan island as "prohibited or restricted waters," causing four mainland fishermen aboard to fall into the water and resulting in the unfortunate deaths of two of them, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said on February 18 that Fujian coast guard would strengthen maritime law enforcement and conduct regular law enforcement patrols in waters between Fujian's Xiamen and Kinmen.

Zheng Jian, professor from the Center for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that after the incident, the mainland authorities urged the Taiwan authorities to promptly disclose the truth, severely punish those responsible, meet the legitimate demands of the families of the victims, and make an apology to the families of the victims.

However, the DPP authorities have displayed a stubborn and arrogant attitude, going against the requests from the mainland side. If the DPP authorities hold on obstinately to errors, they will eventually "shoot themselves in the foot," Zheng said.

According to Zheng, the DPP authorities hope to achieve two objectives through this incident: highlighting its so-called "jurisdiction" and banning the mainland vessels from entering the waters within its so-called "sovereignty."

The mainland has clearly stated its position, emphasizing that the routine patrols conducted by the mainland coast guard in the waters around Kinmen are lawful and justified. The DPP authorities have no right to interfere or chime in, Zheng said.

Kuan had referred to the mainland coast guard's patrol as with high political connotation and a form of declaration of sovereignty, which Zheng thinks proved the DPP authorities had nothing more to say on realizing their shaky stand but wanted to divert the public's attention.

The reason the DPP authorities have found themselves in this passive situation is that they have politicized criminal and civil issues, Zheng said.

As the situation continues to develop, the actions of the Taiwan authorities have not only been discerned by the mainland and the international community, but dissenting voices within the island are also growing stronger, putting the DPP authorities in a difficult passive situation, Zheng added.

Taiwan media reported on Tuesday that the prosecution authority on the island has repeatedly claimed that it would "continue to handle the matter carefully and to restore the truth as soon as possible," but the prosecution's statement does not meet social expectations based on the current progress.

The prosecution authority in Kinmen denied on Tuesday that the case would be investigated as "negligent homicide." There are reports suggesting that if the investigation is conducted in the direction of "negligent homicide," it is highly likely that it signifies the vessel of the Taiwan authorities proactively collided with the mainland fishing boat.

Under such circumstances, the DPP authorities intentionally throwing mud at the mainland exposed their deceitful nature once again, Zheng said, noting that their attempt to use self-deception to confuse the public perception will undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.