Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office Photo:VCG

The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office firmly supports the law enforcement patrols implemented by the mainland coast guard authorities in waters near Kinmen, as they are legitimate actions to maintain order in the relevant maritime areas, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press briefing on Friday.

The Fujian coast guard organized a flotilla to conduct law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen in accordance with the law on Friday.

Chen noted that since the malicious collision incident, in which Taiwan authorities chased a mainland fishing boat and caused it to capsize in waters near Kinmen Island, just a few kilometers off Xiamen, Fujian Province, leading to the deaths of two mainland fishermen on February 14, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have shown no remorse for their callous actions. They also disregarded the legitimate demands from the victims' families, and attempted to shirk responsibility and evade accountability under the guise of their internal investigation procedures, stirring up common opposition and strong indignation among compatriots on both sides of the Straits, including the people from Kinmen.

Taiwan is part of China and the mainland coast guard conducting law enforcement patrols near Kinmen is a legitimate action to maintain order in the relevant maritime areas, Chen said.

China will not tolerate or condone the brutal acts of the DPP authorities, which disregard the lives and properties of mainland fishermen and hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, Chen added.

The DPP authorities must promptly give an account to the families of the deceased and compatriots on both sides of the Straits, Chen said, adding that the mainland authorities reserve the right to take further measures, and the DPP authorities will bear all the consequences.

Global Times