Tension in Taiwan Strait: Collision Stirring Diplomatic Waves

A collision between a Taiwan navy ship and a Chinese trawler in the Taiwan Strait has sparked diplomatic tensions. Taiwan's defense minister dismissed China's complaints, while Taiwan continues military exercises. With China investigating, the incident underscores longstanding territorial disputes and regional security concerns in the sensitive waterway.

A collision between a Taiwanese navy ship and a Chinese trawler has heightened tensions in the volatile Taiwan Strait, as Taipei dismissed Beijing's condemnation of the incident. This clash fuels an already complicated geopolitical landscape, with both nations routinely engaging in military drills in these contested waters.

Taiwan's Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, reaffirmed the nation's commitment to its military exercises, ignoring Chinese objections. Tensions persist as China investigates the collision, which occurred on what many consider the Taiwan side of the Strait's median line—a demarcation Beijing does not acknowledge.

The incident comes amid increased Chinese military activities around Taiwan, which the island territory sees as encroachments on its autonomy. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang, listed among alleged separatists by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, dismissed the accusations, pointing to further diplomatic abrasions.

(With inputs from agencies.)