Man flees China by crossing strait in a dinghy

Taiwanese authorities, including its security agency, are investigating how a mainland Chinese man managed to cross the 180kmwide Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy to claim political asylum. The self-claimed defection of the man, identified by his family name of Zhou, came amid high military tensions over the strait, which is heavily policed by both Chinese and Taiwan forces. The man was detained in a harbour in the city of Taichung on Friday, after he was spotted on the coast.