Mainland spokesperson urges Taiwan authorities give clear explanation over fatal boat expulsion incident

A spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday urged the relevant authorities in Taiwan to give an explanation to the families of the victims and to the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits over the recent incident that led to the deaths of two fishermen from the mainland.

"We solemnly demand that the Taiwan authorities make public the truth as soon as possible, severely punish those responsible, meet the reasonable demands of the families of the victims and make a solemn apology to the families of the victims," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the mainland office, said.

"We will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our compatriots and will never allow such incidents to recur," she added.

Citing Taiwan's expulsion of a mainland fishing boat on February 14 that led to two deaths, Zhu said that after the incident, the Taiwan authorities responsible for the "law enforcement" process of the sea patrol personnel said that there was no impropriety in an attempt to cover up their violent behavior.

It was only at the strong request of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the families of the victims that the Taiwan authorities recognized that the capsizing of the mainland fishing boat and the loss of lives had been caused by their patrol vessel, but they continued to use various reasons to shirk their responsibilities and cover up the truth of the incident, she added.

The spokesperson also pointed out that such an incident is by no means an isolated case.

She said that since May 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have treated mainland fishermen roughly and arbitrarily seized mainland fishing boats and fishermen, which has caused serious damage to the interests of mainland fishermen as well as hurt the feelings of mainland compatriots.

Zhu strongly condemned the Taiwan authorities' brutal treatment of mainland fishermen and their "violent law enforcement" acts that disregard human life and deliberately conceal the truth.

The spokesperson also expressed strong indignation at the Taiwan authorities' inhuman and indifferent words and actions after the incident.

(Cover: File photo of Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. /State Council Taiwan Affairs Office)