IPAC delegation tours Kinmen waters on fact-finding mission in Taiwan Strait

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) A delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) on Thursday toured waters off Kinmen on board a Coast Guard Administration (CGA) patrol vessel as part of a fact-finding mission to learn about Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait.

The group comprised lawmakers from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Czech Republic and Ukraine, as well as the alliance's co-founder and executive director, Luke de Pulford. The delegation was accompanied by the alliance's Taiwan co-chairs, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿).

From Shuitou Port in Kinmen, the delegation boarded a 100-ton CGA patrol vessel in the morning and sailed north, where the skyline of the Chinese city of Xiamen came clearly into view.

During the voyage, CGA officials briefed the delegation on maritime security around Kinmen, including what Taiwan describes as "gray-zone" activities by Chinese coast guard vessels in nearby waters.

They also observed land reclamation work being carried out for Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport on Dadeng Island, which some Taiwanese lawmakers and officials have said poses significant flight safety concerns because of its proximity to the Kinmen islands.

Meanwhile, no Chinese coast guard vessels were seen during the patrol as they were believed to have returned to port to shelter from the approaching Typhoon Bavi.

After returning to Kinmen around noon, the delegation held a closed-door meeting with officials from CGA's Ninth Fleet Branch before returning to Taiwan later that day.

Speaking to CNA, de Pulford said it was important for lawmakers from around the world to see the situation firsthand, adding that the visit marked the first time an international parliamentary delegation had joined a Taiwanese coast guard patrol.

"In fact, this is the first ever visit to be able to come on a coast guard patrol. We're extremely fortunate to be able to do that," he said.

De Pulford said the visit reflected growing international concern over peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"I think it's the largest group of lawmakers from foreign nations ever to come to Kinmen, at least I'm not aware of any larger. So, it is quite a significant visit, but the fact that they want to do it shows you how great the concern is about cross-strait peace around the world," he added.

Echoing de Pulford, British lawmaker Tris Osborne said the visit underscored international support for Taiwan.

"This is a flashpoint, a potential flashpoint, and so it's really important that we stand in solidarity with Taiwan to ensure that we protect their territorial integrity from encroachment from Chinese aggression and their waters," Osborne said.

According to an IPAC news release, the visit gave lawmakers from several countries a firsthand look at China's activities in the Taiwan Strait and reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region.