Argentine ship fires on Taiwanese vessel

A Kaohsiung fishing vessel was hit by a missile fired by an Argentine warship and sank on Friday, the Fisheries Administration under the Council of Agriculture said yesterday.

No injuries were reported.

"The fishing vessel Chin Hsing (錦興) was catching squid near Argentine waters while being tailed and then hit by a missile fired by an Argentine defense patrol ship, the Granville," the Fisheries Administration said in a statement.

"After the Chin Hsing caught fire, the 29 crew members abandoned the vessel and were rescued by other Taiwanese fishing vessels. The crew members were safe following the incident," the administration said.

According to the administration, the crew members were transferred to the Yu Long Fa (玉龍發) and are now on board on Ching Hui 101 (景輝101), a cargo ship.

The Fisheries Administration said that, according to Taiwan's representative in Argentina and local news reports, the Ching Hsing had trespassed into Argentina's economic waters, resulting in the pursuit and attack by the Granville.

The Ching Hsing was then detained by the Argentine government and the case is being reviewed by a court in Comodoro Rivdavia.