The Taiwanese soldier reported missing last week was found in China. The authorities of Taiwan report this. The soldier served on the Taiwanese island of Erdan, less than five kilometres from China.

The disappearance happened amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, so the question arises: is he a deserter?

The soldier served as a cook in the army on the island of Erdan until he suddenly disappeared last week. According to China, the Chinese coast guard fished him out of the sea. That may indicate that the man deserted and wanted to swim to China. The Taiwanese authorities do not confirm this but have launched an investigation into the disappearance and motive of the social. However, they state with certainty that he has not fled from abuse by the army.

Thousands of Taiwanese troops are still serving on the island of Erdan. The island is less than five kilometres from mainland China. At the height of the Cold War, it was common for deserters from both camps to swim across. It has been since 1979 that a soldier made the crossing. Justin Yifu Lin then swam from the Taiwanese island to the Chinese city of Xiamen. He later became the chief economist of the World Bank.

Tensions between China and Taiwan have been running high for some time now. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and wants to return the island to the mainland.