Illegal Chinese Fishing Vessel Detained in Palau for Crossing Territorial Waters
An illegal Chinese fishing vessel has been detained in Palau for crossing territorial waters which is diplomatic situation for Pacific nation.
According to the report of Channel News Asia, a Chinese fishing vessel with 28 crew onboard were detained in Palau, which created a delicate diplomatic situation for the tiny Pacific nation, the allied of Beijing’s rival Taiwan.
The boat was intercepted by a patrol boat at Helen Reef, on the waters of the Palau territory. They were then taken to the main island of Koror, the Division of Marine Law and Enforcement (DMLE) said.
“They did have sea cucumber on there… it’s estimated about 500 pounds (225 kilograms),” DMLE director Victor Remengesau told reporters on Monday.
Remengesau said that the Chinese fishermen and the crew from the patrol boat that have been caught were undergoing 14 days’ quarantine in Palau. Palau is one of the few places in the world that remains COVID-19 free.
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Remengesau, the brother of Palau President Tommy Remengesau, said it had not yet been decided whether to charge the fishermen, who are believed to be from southern China’s Hainan province.
“That’s one of the things that we’re discussing. We’ve been told we don’t want them to be here any longer than they have to be,” he said.
Palau, which has long been considered a pioneer in marine conservation, has banned foreign commercial fishing in its waters. The small country with 18,000 is one of Taiwan’s four remaining allies in the Pacific and only 15 worldwide.
China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, has expressed disapproval of Palau’s diplomatic links back then, implementing an unofficial tourism boycott in 2018.
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