China and Taiwan have reached a deal to resolve the crisis over the deaths of two mainland fishermen near Quemoy, also known as Kinmen. The agreement includes compensation for the victims' families and the repatriation of the bodies of the two men. The fishermen drowned after their boat capsized during a chase by the Taiwanese coastguard in waters off Quemoy on February 14. The negotiations between mainland and Taiwanese officials had stalled in March, but they were able to reach an agreement after holding 15 rounds of talks. The details of the terms have not been disclosed yet. The agreement was witnessed by members of the affected families and officials from both sides [2e81e7d6].
The incident had added to the tensions in cross-strait relations, with the Taiwanese coastguard accusing the fishermen of trespassing in restricted waters and mainland officials accusing the Taiwanese authorities of using excessive force. The crisis further strained the already fragile relationship between China and Taiwan, which had cut off communication in 2016 after Taiwan's then-leader, Tsai Ing-wen, refused to acknowledge the one-China principle. The principle is seen by Beijing as the foundation for any talks between the two sides. The resolution of the crisis is a positive development, but the prospects for an improvement in cross-strait relations remain uncertain, especially after the election of William Lai Ching-te, a member of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, as Taiwan's new leader [2e81e7d6].
The agreement between China and Taiwan to resolve the fishing crew deaths crisis highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges in cross-strait relations. It also demonstrates the importance of dialogue and negotiation in managing disputes and maintaining stability in the region [2e81e7d6].