A Taiwan think tank called on the public to avoid unnecessary travel to China underscoring the dangers to their safety due to China’s recent provocative actions and authoritarian stance.
On February 14, Taiwan’s Coast Guard chased a Chinese vessel in response to its trespassing into Taiwan waters around Kinmen resulting in two deaths due to a patrol boat collision. This was followed by Chinese Coast Guard boarding a Taiwanese sightseeing vessel "King Xia" (金夏遊輪) on February 19, when six Chinese officers boarded the vessel when it veered slightly off course to avoid the shoals.
Taiwan Economic Democracy Union Convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) urged Taiwanese citizens not to travel to China amid escalating tensions. He also reminded the public the dangers of traveling in China such as in the case of Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲) who was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “state subversion.”
Lai said that the incremental encroachments were intended to create a new status quo in the Taiwan Strait. He highlighted the latest Kinmen disputes and the unilateral modification of the M503 flight path as China's continued disregard for Taiwan's sovereignty.
As of now, Taiwan’s government has called for a rational and cooperative approach from both sides regarding maritime security in Kinmen. Taiwan’s military has also opted to stay out of the ongoing maritime dispute in an effort to lower tensions.