Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese coastguards join forces to save capsized fishing boat crew

Two dead, two missing after six people were thrown into the sea by large waves. Rescue boats from both sides of the Taiwan Strait responded

The tragedy occurred not far from February’s deadly pursuit of a mainland speedboat that heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei

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Members of the Taiwanese coastguard during the rescue operation after a Chinese mainland fishing boat capsized on Thursday morning, leaving two of its six-member crew dead and two missing. Photo: CNA

Published: 2:22pm, 14 Mar 2024Updated: 5:04pm, 14 Mar 2024

Two people from mainland China are missing after their fishing boat capsized near Taipei-controlled Quemoy, also called Kinmen, on Thursday, with the search continuing, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese coastguards worked together to rescue the crew of the Fujian fishing boat on Thursday morning, with two people recovered and taken to hospital. The remaining two crew members died in the accident. Earlier reports said that four people were rescued alive.

The tragedy follows a deadly clash in February between the Taiwanese coastguard and a mainland speedboat that led to two deaths and heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwanese coastguards worked with their mainland counterparts to rescue six people from the capsized fishing boat from Fujian province. Photo: Reuters

According to Taiwan newspaper United Daily, all six crew members of the Minlongyu 61222 fell into the sea as the vessel sank about 1.1 nautical miles southwest of Quemoy’s Dongding Island – not far from where the February incident occurred.

The report said the Taiwanese coastguard sent four boats to the area after receiving alerts at around 6am of a vessel in distress.

The survivors were sent to hospital while the bodies of their dead crew mates were later found by the mainland coastguard near Dongding. Authorities from the mainland will arrange the return of the bodies to their families, it said.

The boat was registered in Fujian, the coastal province closest to Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, to be brought under mainland control, by force if necessary.