In a remarkable attempt to seek freedom, a Chinese man swam for nearly 10 hours from China's Fujian Province to Taiwan's Matsu Islands. However, his journey was cut short when he was stung by a bee.

According to the The Independent, the man, believed to be in his 40s, sought help from tourists near the Beigan Township on Beigan Island after being stung. Concerned tourists reported him to local authorities, who confirmed that he was an illegal Chinese immigrant.

The Chinese national was immediately detained and taken to the Beigan health centre for treatment. Thankfully, he did not sustain any serious injuries during the swim. The man, who was found with dry food, clothing, medicine, and Renminbi, explained to authorities that he embarked on the dangerous journey to escape China.

He revealed that he started his journey from the Huangqi Peninsula in Fujian Province and aimed to reach Taiwan's Matsu Islands. After being detained, the man was subsequently taken to the Lienchiang district prosecutor's office for further investigation.

This incident is not the first of its kind, as a similar incident occurred in 2020 when a 45-year-old Chinese national swam for seven hours to reach the Taiwanese island of Kinmen County due to the political environment in China. Likewise, in 2019, two men were arrested for attempting to swim to Kinmen County.

The daring swim showcases the lengths some individuals are willing to go to seek freedom from China. Taiwan, which has been self-ruled since 1949, remains a point of contention between China and Taiwan. Taiwan considers itself independent, while China insists on reunification with Beijing. The man's case is now being investigated in accordance with the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland China.