MAC Press Release No. 013
Regarding the unfortunate capsizing of a "three-noes" vessel from mainland China after illegally entering Taiwan’s restricted and prohibited waters around Kinmen and attempting to evade inspection by Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA),the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated today (February 25, 2024) that, from the very beginning of this accident, the CGA has been negotiating with mainland China's designated representatives in Kinmen to handle follow-up matters.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) issued a press release saying that its Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia plans to visit mainland China soon. Since Mr. Hsia is no longer bound by the legally stipulated period of regulatory control on travel to mainland China, he is free to make the trip at his discretion without needing to submit an application to the competent authority in advance.
According to media reports, Mr. Hsia will, in due course, convey to mainland China the "Hope that the truth will be made public soon and that the two sides can maintain the tacit understanding of mutual respect held in the past to prevent conflicts or stop similar accidents from reoccurring." The MAC welcomed Mr. Hsia's concern in this case and suggested that he emphasize to mainland China that this case is now entering a judicial process in Taiwan. Mainland China should respect Taiwan's judicial system and patiently wait for prosecutors to conclude the investigation, at which point the objective and impartial truth will naturally published.