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 in June the Chinese Captain of the Hong Tai 58 (registered in Togo) to three years of imprisonment 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 that its investigation into the incident "showed two Taiwanese were behind a multiple-vessel operation which illegally transported?frozen? goods 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 this case. It said that Taiwan was making claims before facts were clear.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council stated that the Chinese Communist Party did not?have authority over Taiwan?" and urged the Chinese officials to provide any concrete evidence they may have.

In a press release, it stated that "publicly announcing names or offering rewards in the absence of concrete proof is not a civilized act."

"This is just another example of political manipulation and cross-border repression."

BOUNTY IS OFFERED IN RETURN FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TAIWANESE SUBJECTS

The 'Weihai Public Security Bureau' has offered a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (approximately $35,569) in exchange for any information or assistance about the Taiwanese suspects who have the surnames Chien and Chen. They also said that the suspects had been on the?wanted list?of the Chinese Customs Office since 2014.

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

At a weekly press briefing, Peng Qingen, the spokesperson for the office said that Taipei "accommodates and shelters smuggling crime, taking advantage of the opportunity to manipulate politics and undermine cross-strait relationships".

Beijing considers Taiwan to be its own territory. Taipei says that only the people of Taiwan can decide its future. Reporting by Liz Lee of the Beijing Newsroom, and additional reporting in Taipei by Yimou Lee; editing by Thomas Derpinghaus & Bernadette Baum

(source: Reuters)