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5 months after fishermen deaths off Quemoy, can Beijing and Taiwan put tragedy to rest?
- Typhoon Gaemi hits latest talks, but signs from either side of Taiwan Strait signal potential end to coastguard tensions and trading blame
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Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit
Two mainland Chinese fishermen drown after Taiwan coastguard pursuit
Amber Wangin Beijing
Cross-strait talks to address the deaths of two mainland fishermen off Taiwanese-controlled islands are showing signs of progress after months of stalemate.
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The fishermen drowned on February 14 when their speedboat capsized after Taiwan’s coastguard gave chase near the Quemoy islands – a Taiwanese defence outpost also called Kinmen.
Talks between Beijing and Taiwan scheduled for earlier this week had aimed to resolve the situation arising out of the tragedy – including returning the fishermen’s bodies – after five months of trading blame and soaring tensions between the two coastguards.
While the talks scheduled for Wednesday on Quemoy were postponed because of Typhoon Gaemi, Taiwanese media reports and Beijing’s latest tone on the tragedy have signalled signs of progress.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Office said that the family members of the deceased and the mainland delegation could not arrive as scheduled because all marine transport had been halted as the deadly typhoon barrelled towards the Taiwan Strait.
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