Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu are all parts of China. The waters around Xiamen and Kinmen have since ancient times been a traditional fishing ground for fishermen from both sides of the Straits, and there is no such thing as so-called "restricted or prohibited waters," Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Saturday, in response to a question about mainland coast guard's recent law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen, which Taiwan regional authorities claimed as "restricted or prohibited waters."

Chen said the mainland coast guard's regular law enforcement patrols in these waters are conducted to maintain maritime order and ensure the safety of lives and property for fishermen from both sides. 

"We solemnly warn the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to face up to the historical and objective fact that fishermen from both sides of the Straits operate together in the traditional fishing grounds, and immediately stop arbitrarily detaining or even treating mainland fishermen and fishing vessels in dangerous and reckless ways, or they will bear all the consequences," Chen stated.

Global Times