Concerns over the working conditions for Chinese fishermen in Taiwan were raised yesterday in the wake of a recent incident in which fishermen were taken hostage.
Following the incident on the Ming Man (明滿號) fishing boat in early September, in which 32 Chinese fishermen allegedly took three Taiwanese crew members hostage, human rights organizations and legislators called on the government yesterday to look into the working conditions of Chinese fishermen in Taiwan.
At a public hearing, Fu Kuen-cheng (傅崑成), secretary-general of the Taiwan-based Chinese Association for Human Rights (中國人權協會) and who is also a legislator, pointed out that, due to the fact that fewer and fewer Taiwanese want to work as fisherman, Taiwan's fishing industry has been employing an increasing number of Chinese in recent years.
He noted, however, that regulations on employment of the Chinese fishermen are still lacking. As a result, he said, Chinese fishermen, when treated badly by their employers, often become a great threat to the safety of the fishing industry.
On Sept. 17, coast guard officials from Kaohsiung raided the Taiwanese fishing boat Ming Man, arresting 32 Chinese fishermen who had allegedly launched a mutiny in which they took three Taiwanese crew members hostage.
According to the coast guard, the mutiny took place on Sept. 2, when Chinese laborers employed by the Ming Man's owners beat the ship's Taiwanese first and second mates and a Filipino sailor after suffering what they described as inhumane treatment by the Taiwanese.
The three then jumped into the sea to escape further attack and were later rescued by another Taiwanese fishing vessel, according to coast guards.
The Chinese fishermen then took the ship's captain and another two Taiwanese sailors hostage, demanding the company to which the Ming Man was registered pay a ransom in exchange for the crew's release.
When the ship returned to waters off Kaohsiung in the morning, it was met by coast guards pretending to be employees of the fishing company.
New Party Legislator Levi Ying (營志宏) indicated that conflicts of this kind had also happened before as a result of the poor working conditions endured by Chinese fishermen.
He said the government should take the issue seriously and take action on it.
Laborers from China, predominantly Fujian Province (
Not allowed to reside in the country, Chinese fishermen live on offshore residences from which they are contracted to work on Taiwanese fishing vessels.
Meanwhile, Premier Tang Fei (唐飛), in response to legislators' concerns over the Chinese fishermen at yesterday's interpellation session, said the government will look into the issue and that it is also considering allowing Chinese fishermen to periodically land on Taiwan shores.
The premier promised to refer the issue to related agencies, which will then work out a resolution in about a month's time.
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