China ‘conducts’ sea patrols near Kinmen
BEIJING: China’s Fujian coast guard conducted patrols in waters near Kinmen on Sunday, China Coast Guard said.
The Kinmen islands are administered by Taiwan. The coast guard said it took measures during the patrols “to strengthen law enforcement inspections in key areas, effectively maintain the order of operations in the relevant sea areas, and effectively safeguard the safety of fishermen’s lives and property.” Meanwhile, Taiwanese celebrated “The Bombing of Master Han Dan,” which has been held in northwestern Miaoli county’s Zhunan township for more than a century.
The celebration is typically held on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and this year it fell on a Saturday night, drawing hundreds of spectators who stood a safe distance away.
They covered their ears to shield themselves from the loud explosions of the firecrackers, while trying to film on their smartphones.
Event officials dressed in yellow -- complete with head, face, and glove coverings -- were tasked with igniting the firecrackers and flinging them at the procession as it passed.
At the centre of the chaos were the true believers -- four men carrying a palanquin which holds Master Han Dan adorned with some green fronds.
The four carriers also wielded a broom to sweep away evil spirits.
Separately, the Philippines on Sunday accused the Chinese coast guard of atempting to block a Filipino government vessel delivering supplies to fishermen, the second such alleged incident near a disputed reef in two weeks.
The BRP Datu Sanday was supplying fuel to fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal when it was harassed by a China Coast Guard vessel and three other Chinese ships on February 22, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres of Datu Sanday’s bow, it said in an incident report that also listed shadowing, vessel transponder jamming and other “dangerous manoeuvres.” “Despite these manoeuvres, the skipper of BRP Datu Sanday exhibited excellent seamanship skills and managed to evade the blocking atempts,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Filipino coast guard spokesman on South China Sea issues.
A week earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard said the BRP Datu Tamblot had a similar encounter in the area.