The army on Tuesday urged China to allow the return of a Taiwanese officer stationed in Kinmen County as soon as possible, following his detention in China since March.
The noncommissioned officer, a 25-year-old man surnamed Hu (胡), who was part of the Kinmen Garrison Brigade, was rescued by the China Coast Guard after drifting into waters off China’s Fujian Province during a fishing trip. He has since been held due to his “sensitive status” as an active-duty soldier.
The Army Command Headquarters on Tuesday said that Hu’s family applied for voluntary military discharge on his behalf, which was approved and became effective on Wednesday last week.
Photo: CNA
The army said it would continue working with government agencies, including the Kinmen County Government, to get China to return Hu as soon as possible.
Hu and a 40-year-old angler surnamed Wu (吳) were rescued by Chinese authorities after going missing and losing contact due to foggy conditions during a fishing trip off Kinmen on March 17.
Wu was on March 23 returned to Kinmen, which is about 10km east of Xiamen, China.
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