TAIPEI: Taiwan’s coast guard said that late on Tuesday night Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China’s coast close to a Taiwan-controlled island, and took it to a Chinese port, in a further escalation of tensions.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and since May has been increasing pressure on Taipei following the taking over of office by President Lai Ching-te who Beijing accuses of being a “separatist”.
Taiwan’s coast guard said the squid fishing boat was near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands which are situated next to the Chinese cities Xiamen and Quanzhou but located in Chinese waters when it was boarded and seized by two Chinese maritime administration boats.
According to Taiwan’s coastguard, the Taiwanese boat was operating at such time when China cannot allow fishing thus they will try talking with China while urging for quick release of fish men.
According to China’s coast guard, The south Fujian Coast Guard Authority seized the Taiwan boat because it violated fish banning rule during summer period and performed illegal trawling activities which destroy marine fishery resources as well as local environment.
The nets used were also far smaller than those prescribed by China hence causing damage to marine fishery resources and environment, it said.
During this period, Taiwan vessels tried to “interfere with” China’s normal law enforcement, so Fujian officials warned them off or “drove them away” according to law.
No immediate response was received from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office after asking for comments regarding these issues.
Taiwan’s ships then backed off not wishing conflict while calling on china through broadcasting for release of their fishermen but in return china’s ship broadcasted back not to interfere with what happened.
Additionally three out five Indonesian migrant workers were among five fishermen detained by Guangzhou upon their arrival at one of its ports together with their vessel where Indonesian authorities shall offer legal assistance according to Reuters.
Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin told reporters in Taipei that China should explain why it had seized the boat, and pointed out that in previous cases, fishermen had been released after paying fines when operating during China’s no-fishing season.
Taiwanese fishing boats need to raise their alert level and the coast guard will also strengthen its patrols, he added.
“The coast guard also calls on the mainland side not to use political factors to handle this situation,” Hsieh said.
The Mainland Affairs Council Taiwan’s highest policy-making body on China said it intends to contact Beijing for further clarification of what transpired “to clear up needless doubts”.
Judha Nugraha, director for citizen protection at Indonesia’s foreign ministry confirmed that his country’s consulate general located in Guangzhou has been coordinating with Indonesian nationals held by Chinese authorities through Reuters.
According to an official who wished not be named due to sensitivity of matter, there has been a history where a Taiwan fishing boat was once taken by Chinese authorities after operating within its waters.
A Taiwan official familiar with the island’s security planning told Reuters alerts have been issued to fishing as well as transport authorities across Taiwan about “possible risks” arising from frequent activities of Chinese coast guards around the region including near Philippine and Japan.
Also according to Taiwan coast guard data five such boats from china have been detained this year alone.
Two Chinese citizens died a few days later in an attempt to escape from the Taiwanese coast guard; after this, since February, Chinese maritime enforcement and coast guard ships have been regularly operating around Kinmen.
