China Coast Guard detains Taiwanese fishing boat and 5 crew members near Quemoy

The incident is the latest in a string of confrontations in waters off the coast of the outpost also known as Kinmen

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Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration says the fishing boat Da Jin Man 88 was stopped by two mainland coastguard vessels late on Tuesday while operating in waters 23.7 nautical miles off Quemoy. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:00pm, 3 Jul 2024Updated: 3:38pm, 4 Jul 2024

The China Coast Guard has seized a Taiwanese fishing boat and detained its crew near Quemoy, in a fresh flare-up in the area around the Taiwan-controlled defence outpost, also known as Kinmen.

The incident occurred just one week after a tense stand-off in which Taiwanese coastguard vessels intercepted four mainland Chinese coastguard ships patrolling waters 5 nautical miles from Quemoy.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said on Wednesday that the fishing boat Da Jin Man 88 was stopped by two mainland coastguard vessels late on Tuesday while operating in waters 23.7 nautical miles off Quemoy.

Mainland officers boarded the boat for inspection and told the captain and crew to navigate towards the mainland coastal city of Jinjiang in Fujian province.

The Taiwanese coastguard tried to intervene but the mainland sent seven vessels in two groups to block them. After a tense stand-off lasting about 50 minutes, the Taiwanese side ceased pursuit to prevent further escalation, according to the administration.

In addition to the Taiwanese captain, one Taiwanese and three Indonesian crew members were on board the fishing boat.