A fishing boat suspected of operating in disputed waters between Taiwan and Japan was detained by Japanese authorities yesterday, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).
"The Suao-based Hsing-tungchuan No 68 ventured 37km northwest off the disputed Diaoyutai group, which is on the coast guard's patrol line and is temporarily set at 124km off the coast -- not in Japanese waters," the coast guard said in a press statement yesterday.
The coast guard said Japanese personnel from a patrol boat inspected the fishing boat at the site, and then took it, along with its crew, to Okinawa.
Eight crew members from the boat were arrested, including Taiwanese Captain Liu Kuo-ching (
The coast guard said that it received reports that the fishing boat had encountered a Japanese patrol boat on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm.
It said it immediately dispatched two vessels, the Ho-hsing and Bo-hsing, to the site.
"The CGA boats attempted to contact the fishing boat several times on the way to the site but failed. On Saturday night, the CGA boats were informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the fishing boat was already heading to Okinawa," the statement said.
The coast guard said the 1,800-tonne Ho-shing vessel arrived at the site early yesterday morning and was able to talk to Liu, who said they were on their way to Okinawa.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said yesterday that the ministry was in negotiations with the Japanese authorities and hoped the boat's crew could be released soon.
Several fishing disputes have occurred between Taiwan and Japan, but the two sides have been unable to reconcile their difference through diplomatic means.
About 40 fishing boats from Suao sailed north in June last year to challenge Japan's claim over the fishing grounds surrounding the disputed Diaoyutai group of islands.
The fishermen said that Japanese patrol boats often drove them away from the waters between Taiwan's northeastern coast and Okinawa.
The fishermen asked the government to take their fishing rights seriously.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
The coast guard also outlined 13 sea patrol areas and promised to protect fishing boats operating in these areas.
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