The mainland Chinese authorities have said they are still holding a former Taiwanese soldier who was picked up by the coastguard three months ago.
The man, identified only by his surname Hu, was in good health and had been allowed to see family members on Sunday, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said.
She also accused Taipei of being “maliciously misleading” for claiming that the mainland authorities were detaining more former soldiers or police officers in a possible attempt to recruit intelligence sources.
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“As long as Taiwan compatriots do not engage in illegal or criminal activities, they do not have to be worried when travelling to the mainland,” Zhu said.
Hu, 25, and another man surnamed Wu, were rescued by the mainland coastguard in March after their small fishing boat lost power in Weitou Bay, a stretch of water that separates the Taiwanese-controlled island of Quemoy, also known as Kinmen, and the mainland province of Fujian.
Wu was released five days later but Hu remained in detention with the mainland authorities saying he had “intentionally concealed information” about his military service.
Hu later applied for “voluntary discharge” from the armed forces through his family, which came into effect in May.
Taiwanese media reported that Hu and his family had been able to keep in contact during his months of detention and were allowed to meet for around two hours in Quanzhou on Sunday.
His mother said he had been “eating well” and had gained 8kg (18 pounds) in detention.
However, she urged the Taiwanese authorities to do more to resolve the situation and also resolve a dispute over a deadly speedboat chase earlier this year.
Beijing accused the Taiwanese coastguard of using “violent and dangerous methods” after a fishing boat from the mainland capsized while being chased near Quemoy, killing two fishermen. The incident also prompted the mainland to step up coastguard patrols near the island, which is just a few kilometres from the mainland.
Taipei said the speedboat was trespassing and insisted its actions were in line with regulations to expel vessels that illegally enter its waters.
Beijing has accused Taipei of “hiding the truth” about the incident, which is being investigated by a judge. In turn Taiwan has accused the mainland authorities of not cooperating with the investigation.
More from South China Morning Post:
- Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese coastguards in tense stand-off near Quemoy
- Longest-serving Taiwanese top legislator on personal ‘pilgrimage’ to mainland China
- Taiwan: rare sighting of mainland Chinese helicopter points to test of island defences
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