Source: ALJAZEERA
ALJAZEERA MEDIA NETWORK
Taiwan urges China to release crew and vessel seized from outside Taiwanese waters near Kinmen Islands.
Chinese coastguard officials have detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel and brought it to a port in mainland China, Taiwan reports, calling for the release of the boat and its crew of six members.
This action occurred late on Tuesday as China's coast guard ramped up patrols around Taiwan's Kinmen islands following several deadly fishing incidents, triggering tension between the two sides.
Taiwan's coast guard stated that the Taiwanese boat was fishing for squid beyond Taipei-controlled waters near the Kinmen islands when it was intercepted and seized by two Chinese maritime administration vessels.
Kinmen, located next to Xiamen and Quanzhou in China, is approximately five kilometers (3 miles) from the Chinese mainland.
The Taiwanese boat was operating during China's no-fishing season, according to the coastguard, which plans to engage with China to secure the prompt release of the fishermen.
No immediate response was provided by China's Taiwan Affairs Office.
Taiwan dispatched two patrol vessels to aid the fishing boat, with a third vessel for support, but one was impeded by Chinese coast guard ships.
Messages were exchanged between the Taiwanese coast guard and the Chinese counterparts, with Taiwan demanding the immediate release of its boat while China asked for non-interference to prevent escalation.
Deciding to cease the pursuit to avoid escalating tensions, the Taiwanese coast guard disclosed that the fishing boat was taken to China's Weitou port.
The boat carried six crew members, including the captain and several Indonesian migrant workers, as reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency.
Hsieh Ching-chin, Deputy Director-General of the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, called for China to clarify the seizure and noted that in previous instances, fishermen were released after fines were paid for operating during China's no-fishing period.
Taiwan's fishing boats are urged to heighten vigilance, with the coastguard reinforcing patrols to manage any potential risks, according to Hsieh.
Emphasizing that politics should not influence the situation, the coastguard appealed to China to handle the matter impartially.
Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director for citizen protection mentioned that the consulate general in Guangzhou will assist the detained Indonesians.
An anonymous official highlighted that it is not uncommon for Taiwan and China to detain each other's fishing boats trespassing into their waters, with Taiwan detaining five Chinese boats this year.
Chinese maritime enforcement and coastguard vessels have been active around Kinmen since February following the deaths of two Chinese fishermen in an incident involving Taiwan's coastguard.
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