TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A former military officer surnamed Hu (胡) detained by China for nearly five months returned to Taiwan on Wednesday (Aug. 7).

Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) accompanied Hu's wife and daughter on a boat to China to pick him up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, per CNA. The family then returned to Kinmen around 11 a.m. via a Mini-Three-Links ferry. 

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said during Hu's prolonged detention, the government continuously conveyed its concerns to relevant Chinese agencies through established channels, demanding his safe and unconditional return based on humanitarian principles and the long-standing practice of cross-strait maritime rescue.

In response to Hu's return, the MAC said it was pleased that China “has finally taken action to return Hu safely.” The MAC emphasized that after the incident, in addition to requesting the Straits Exchange Foundation to communicate with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to expedite the repatriation of Hu, it also maintained contact with his family to express the government's concern.

While fishing with a friend surnamed Wu (吳) on March 17, the two residents of Kinmen's Jinsha Township encountered heavy fog. When they accidentally strayed into the waters off Quanzhou, China, they were intercepted and boarded by the Chinese coast guard. 

Although Wu was soon released, Hu was held by Chinese authorities for allegedly concealing his identity as an active duty officer.