Chinese authorities said on Wednesday that two Taiwanese nationals were involved in a smuggling ring involving a Chinese crewed vessel?that damaged submarine cables earlier this summer.

A Taiwanese court sentenced a Chinese captain, the Hong Tai 58 of Togo, to three-years in prison in June after finding him guilty for intentionally damaging underwater cables near Taiwan in February. This case alarmed officials in Taipei.

The public security bureau of?Weihai in China's eastern Shandong Province said Wednesday that its investigation into the incident revealed?that two Taiwanese were behind a multi vessel operation which illegally transported?frozen products into China. Seven Chinese crew members of the Hong 'Tai 58 were interviewed by authorities.

China accused Taiwan earlier of "manipulating", possible Chinese involvement in the?case, saying that it was making claims before facts were clear.

Weihai's public security bureau has offered a reward of up to 25,000 yuan ($35569) in exchange for any information or assistance about the Taiwanese suspects who have the surnames Chien or Chen. They also said that the suspects had been on the?Chinese Customs Office wanted list since 2014

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of inciting a confrontation. They said that Taipei "ignored facts" and "maliciously inflated" the situation.

Peng Qingen said, "Taipei is sheltering and condoning crimes of smuggling, and using this opportunity to manipulate politics and undermine the cross-strait relationship," at a weekly press briefing.

The Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council didn't immediately respond to a?request for comment.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be its own territory. Taipei, however, rejects this claim and says that only the islanders can decide its future. (Reporting and editing by Thomas Derpinghaus; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee, Beijing Newsroom.

(source: Reuters)