Taiwanese fishing boat “Da Jinman 88” registered in the Republic of China was inspected and detained by Chinese coast guard patrols in the waters off Dongshan, Fujian Province, China. In response to this incident, the Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration held a press conference today urging the Chinese side not to politicize the issue and to promptly provide explanations and follow procedures for releasing the boat and crew.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration, Deputy Director Xie Qingqin, on the evening of July 2nd at 8:14 pm, the owner of the Taiwanese fishing boat “Da Jinman 88” reported to the authorities that their vessel had been detained by two Chinese coast guard ships, numbered 14521 and 14607, in an area 23.7 nautical miles northeast of Liao Port in Kinmen (17.5 nautical miles outside the restricted area, and 25 nautical miles west of the median line).
The Coast Guard Administration immediately dispatched the 10081 vessel (14.3 nautical miles from the scene) and the 3505 vessel (31.4 nautical miles from the scene) to provide assistance. Despite the Taiwanese coast guard’s attempts to intercept and rescue the fishing boat, the Chinese coast guard vessels hindered their efforts, eventually leading to the return of the “Da Jinman 88” to Weitou Port in China.
It was reported that there are a total of five crew members on board the “Da Jinman 88”, including two Taiwanese nationals and three Indonesian nationals. The Taiwanese authorities have called on the Chinese side to handle the situation without political interference and to release the boat and crew promptly.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency in Taiwan strongly condemned the forced inspection and detention of the Taiwanese fishing vessel by the Chinese coast guard. They have requested the Mainland Affairs Council and the Straits Exchange Foundation to engage with the Chinese authorities through official channels to secure the prompt release of the crew and vessel.
The Fisheries Agency noted that the “Da Jinman 88” is a 78-ton fishing vessel that departed from Zhugang Fishing Port in Penghu on June 30th with five crew members on board. The vessel’s AIS signal indicated that it was forcibly taken to Weitou Port in China by the Chinese coast guard on the evening of July 2nd.
The area where the incident occurred is traditionally a fishing ground for Taiwanese fishermen. The Ministry of Agriculture urged the Chinese authorities to respect the fishing rights of Taiwanese fishermen and expedite the release of the crew and vessel through diplomatic channels.
In response to the situation, the Chief of the Fisheries Agency, Zhang Zhisheng, stated that the government is actively negotiating with the Chinese authorities through the Mainland Affairs Council. He emphasized that the area where the incident took place is a common fishing ground for Penghu fishermen, and cooperation between both sides in overlapping maritime areas is essential to ensure the safe return of the crew and vessel.
The Mainland Affairs Council addressed the detention of the Taiwanese fishing boat “Da Jinman 88” by the Chinese authorities, stating that the incident has attracted attention from various parties. Due to the suspected violation of China’s seasonal fishing regulations, they have requested the Chinese side to clarify the circumstances of the incident and the reasons for the inspection and detention. The council emphasized the importance of resolving the issue promptly and ensuring the safety of the crew members after clarifying the situation.
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