A Penghu-registered fishing boat was seized by Chinese coast guard late Tuesday. The Da Jin Man No. 88 was catching squid off Kinmen County, in Chinese-controlled waters. It was boarded by China’s coast guard and taken to the Port of Weitou in Fujian province. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration is urging the return of the boat and its crew.
Hsieh Ching-chin
CGA deputy director-general
China’s summer fishing ban is currently in place, and this incident occurred in China’s enforcement area. The boat was boarded 11.2 nautical miles from Shenhu, Jinjiang, within Chinese waters. The follow-up on this case will be handled by the Mainland Affairs Council and the Fisheries Agency, through cross-strait communication channels. The Coast Guard Administration urges China to not use political factors to deal with this case, and to release the ship and its crew in accordance with procedures.
Chen Yu-jen
KMT lawmaker
I think that the Mainland Affairs Council should hurry up. The Lai administration should hurry up and show us what it can do. While you’re so busy countering China and defending Taiwan, don’t forget you have to protect the people, too.
Lai Jui-lung
DPP lawmaker
In the past, each side simply chased the other off. There was a tacit understanding to deal with intrusions in such a manner. So of course China’s approach here raises suspicions. Is China trying to put pressure on President Lai and his administration? Excessive law enforcement is a setback for fishers’ rights and cross-strait relations.
According to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration, China has boarded and inspected 17 Taiwanese fishing vessels since 2003. Eleven of them were boarded in the summer, during China’s fishing ban period, and they were released after paying a fine. The remaining six ships were seized by China but released after cross-strait negotiation. However, the last time a boat was seized was 17 years ago in 2007.
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