A recent boat capsizing incident in Kinmen waters has sparked tensions between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese fishermen over the valuable wild yellow croaker that inhabit the area. The incident occurred on February 14 when a mainland speedboat was pursued by Taiwanese coast guards and capsized near Beidong Island, resulting in the death of two individuals.
The conflict over the high-priced yellow croaker has been brewing for some time, with fishermen on both sides competing for the valuable catch. Wild yellow croaker, known as the “rich gold” in the sea, has seen its population decline due to overfishing, leading to soaring prices. Mainland Chinese fishermen often cross the border into Kinmen waters to catch the expensive fish, leading to confrontations with Taiwanese authorities.
The ongoing dispute has led to numerous incidents of mainland fishing boats being driven away or detained by Taiwanese coast guards. In the past eight years, more than 9,100 mainland fishing boats have been expelled for crossing the border, with over 400 detained and 80 confiscated. The recent boat capsizing incident marks the first time a fisherman has died during a pursuit by the coast guard.
The tensions have raised concerns about the impact on fishermen’s livelihoods and the potential interruption of the “mini three links” between Taiwan and mainland China. The mini-three links, which facilitate direct navigation, trade, and mail between Kinmen and Xiamen, were suspended for three years due to the pandemic and only resumed last year.
Amidst the escalating tensions, Lin Maolin, founder of the Kinmen Strait Cross-Strait Consensus Association, has called for cooler heads to prevail and for both sides to avoid politicizing the incident. He hopes that Beijing will continue to promote peaceful development and integration between Xiamen and Kinmen, while urging officials to engage in constructive consultations to resolve the conflict.