Taiwan has lodged a protest against China following an incident where a tourist boat was boarded by the Chinese coast guard near the Kinmen archipelago. The boat, named King Xia, was carrying 11 crew members and 23 passengers when it was boarded for approximately 32 minutes on Monday. Taiwanese media reported that the boat was escorted back to Kinmen by Taiwan's coast guard before continuing its sightseeing voyage.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling expressed concerns over the incident, stating that it had caused distress among the people and was not in the best interest of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Premier Chen Chien-jen emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions in the region, particularly following increased military activities by China after Taiwan's election of a pro-independence president earlier this year.
