Whether Pingtung fishermen returning from a trip to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in the disputed South China Sea are to face disciplinary action is not yet certain, the Council of Agriculture said.
Council of Agriculture Minister Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) said Taiwan is ruled by law and that the council would follow the law in dealing with the matter.
“We’ll announce the results after completing administrative procedures,” Tsao said. “It’s too early to say if the council will mete out disciplinary action.”
At issue are four Pingtung boats that on July 20 sailed for Itu Aba, the largest island in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), to assert the nation’s sovereignty over the island and the surrounding waters.
However, the flotilla of ships, which returned from the 3,200km journey to a hero’s welcome on Sunday, could face disciplinary action.
That is because one of the ships is designated as a transport ship for carrying live grouper across the Taiwan Strait and is not licensed to be used for any other purpose.
The ship possibly contravened the Fisheries Act (漁業法) and could have its operating license revoked.
Another of the boats did not dock at Taiping Island eventually because it was carrying three reporters from Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television.
The Fisheries Agency said the ship owner could face fines of between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000.
Fisheries Agency Director-General Chen Tain-shou (陳添壽) said he respects the actions of the fishermen, but insisted that he would have to follow the law in dealing with the matter.
The possible disciplinary action facing the fishermen has drawn criticism, with some saying that the fishermen did what the government should have done in asserting the nation’s sovereignty.
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