Wed Dec 24 05:23:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Chinese authorities are accusing two Taiwanese citizens of orchestrating a smuggling operation using a Chinese-crewed vessel that damaged subsea cables earlier in 2025. This follows the sentencing of the Chinese captain of the vessel in Taiwan for intentionally damaging the cables. China claims Taiwan is manipulating the situation for political gain and sheltering criminals. Taiwan has not yet responded to these accusations.
News Article:
China Accuses Taiwanese Citizens of Masterminding Subsea Cable Damage, Smuggling Operation
BEIJING – December 24, 2025: Chinese authorities announced Wednesday that two Taiwanese citizens are suspected of leading a large-scale smuggling operation, using a Chinese-crewed vessel, that resulted in the damaging of vital subsea cables in February of this year.
The announcement from the Weihai public security bureau in Shandong province follows the June sentencing in Taiwan of the Chinese captain of the Togo-registered ship, Hong Tai 58, to three years in prison for intentionally damaging undersea cables off the coast of Taiwan. Authorities in Weihai claim their investigation, including interviews with seven Chinese crew members, points to the two Taiwanese men, identified only by the surnames Chien and Chen, as the masterminds behind a multi-vessel smuggling operation that was illegally transporting frozen goods into China.
The bureau has issued a bounty of up to 250,000 yuan ($35,569) for information leading to the arrest of Chien and Chen, stating they have been on a Chinese customs office wanted list since 2014.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has accused Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of deliberately provoking confrontation by “hyping up” the situation and ignoring facts. A spokesperson for the office, Peng Qingen, stated that Taipei is “sheltering and condoning smuggling crimes, using the opportunity to carry out political manipulation and undermine cross-strait relations.”
As of this report, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has not issued a response to the allegations.
The accusations come amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Taipei, with China viewing Taiwan as a renegade province and Taiwan asserting its right to self-determination. The incident is likely to further strain already fragile cross-strait relations.
First Piper 