The Min Ping Yu No. 5202, a fishing vessel from mainland China, found itself involved in a repatriation operation intended to return undocumented Chinese immigrants to their homeland. On August 13, during this operation, the fishing boat was struck by a Taiwanese naval vessel. The resulting impact led to the sinking of Min Ping Yu No. 5202, with 21 people on board losing their lives. The operation context revolved around a tense political climate wherein mainland Chinese immigrants often sought refuge or a better life in Taiwan, leading to a complicated relationship fraught with maritime incidents like this.

Less than a month prior, another incident had taken place involving another fishing boat, Min Ping Yu No. 5540, which faced a similar fate. These tragic events highlighted the dangers faced by fishermen and the critical nature of cross-strait relations during that period. The Taiwanese authorities were engaged in enhanced patrolling and repatriation operations due to increasing attempts by Chinese nationals to illegally enter Taiwan via fishing boats.

The subsequent investigation into the causes of this collision called scrutiny to the protocols followed by both the naval forces and the fishing vessels operating in these waters. Additionally, the repeated incidents reflected the intense socio-political pressures influencing people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as the challenging conditions under which these maritime operations took place.