Taiwan Demands China Release Seized Fishing Boat Da Jin Man No 88 and Crew

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) is calling on China to explain why it seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Da Jin Man No 88, and to release the vessel and its six crew members immediately.

Incident Details

The Da Jin Man No 88, registered in Penghu, was boarded and seized by the Chinese coast guard on July 2. The vessel was reportedly intercepted about 20 km from a port in Fujian Province’s Jinjiang County due to a summer fishing ban. The CGA stated that two Taiwanese and three Indonesians were on board.

Response from Taiwan

CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin reported that the agency received a report from the boat’s owner about the interception by two Chinese coast guard vessels. The CGA dispatched patrol boats PP-10081, PP-3505, and PP-10039 to assist the Da Jin Man No 88. However, the Chinese coast guard urged them not to interfere, and the CGA decided to pull back to avoid escalation.

Current Status

By 10:30 pm local time on Tuesday, the Taiwanese fishing boat had been taken to Fujian’s Port of Weitou by the Chinese coast guard. The boarding location was within Chinese territorial waters. Hsieh noted that it is currently the fishing moratorium period in China. Follow-up negotiations will be handled through Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council and the Fisheries Agency.