TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said Wednesday that the case of a Taiwanese fisherman, who is also an active-duty soldier and has been detained in mainland China for over a month, is still under verification. Zhu did not mention when the man would be repatriated or how the situation would be handled.
The fisherman, surnamed Hu, was one of two men who went missing off the coast of Kinmen in March. Both were rescued by mainland China's maritime police. The other man surnamed Wu, has already been returned to Kinmen by relevant departments in Fujian.
Hu, however, has been held in mainland China for over 30 days due to his failure to accurately disclose his identity, seemingly deliberately concealing and fabricating false occupational information.
Zhu stated that the Taiwan Affairs Office will provide assistance to Taiwanese representatives who previously expressed a desire to visit Hu.
In response to questions at the press conference, Zhu said that proactive measures will be taken to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including tourism, between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. This is despite the fact that there are still some artificial obstacles and barriers to cross-strait exchanges and cooperation on the island.