Taiwan says China coast guard harasses fishing boat

Taiwan says China coast guard harasses fishing boat

/ 03:29 PM July 04, 2024

Taiwan says China coast guard harasses fishing boat

This picture taken on September 14, 2022 shows Chutou islet seen from the Dongji islet, part of South Penghu Marine National Park, western of Taiwan. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

TAIWAN — Taiwan accused China on Thursday of harassing one of its fishing boats in waters near the Penghu islands, a day after Beijing seized a Taiwanese vessel over alleged “illegal fishing”.

The Taiwanese coast guard said it dispatched three patrol ships late Wednesday after receiving a call from a fishing boat that was “interfered with and approached by” an unspecified number of Chinese coast guard vessels.

Article continues after this advertisement

The incident occurred 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) northwest of Penghu, an archipelago in the Taiwan Strait, and outside of Taiwan’s “restricted waters”, the coast guard said.

FEATURED STORIES

READ: Taiwan says China’s coast guard has detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel

The boat later reported it had left the area and “was not pursued by Chinese coast guard again”, the force said in a statement, adding it had strengthened patrols in the area.

Article continues after this advertisement

The incident comes as Taipei urged Beijing to immediately release a fishing boat carrying two Taiwanese and three Indonesians seized by the Chinese coast guard close to Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen islands.

Article continues after this advertisement

The boat, suspected of illegal fishing off the coast of Quanzhou in China’s Fujian province, was inspected and detained on Tuesday, according to a Chinese coast guard spokesman.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Taiwan urges China to release seized fishing boat

But Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency insisted that the area where the incident took place was a “traditional fishing ground” for both sides.

Article continues after this advertisement

China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

It has ramped up pressure on Taiwan in recent years, and conducted military drills around the island days after the May 20 inauguration of new Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said Thursday it had detected 30 Chinese warplanes and eight naval vessels around the island in a 24-hour period ending at 6:00 am (2200 GMT Wednesday).

In February, the capsizing of a Chinese fishing boat while it was being pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard further strained relations, after a survivor reportedly said the boat was “rammed”.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Taiwan said its coast guard was following legitimate procedures after the Chinese vessel entered “prohibited waters”.

TAGS: China, Taiwan

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.