US Intensifies Monitoring of China’s Capture of Taiwanese Fishing Boat

July 5 :
In a statement made on Thursday, the US State Department stated that it is keeping a close eye on the situation of a fishing boat that was taken from Taiwan by China and its crew (Taipei, July 4). The news was published by Taiwan News. This follows on July 2 when the crew of the Da Jin Man No. 88 was apprehended and held by the Chinese coast guard.

The US State Department is keeping an eye on things and urging all sides to "maintain open lines of communication" in order to reach a peaceful resolution, according to a US State Department spokesman who talked with CNA. Two Chinese coast guard vessels rescued a Taiwanese boat and brought it to Weitou Port in Fujian, 43.89 km (23.7 NM) northeast of Liaoluo Bay in Kinmen. The fishing boats reportedly had two Taiwanese and three Indonesians, according to Taiwan News.

According to the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the incident took place in Chinese seas, as announced on Wednesday. Furthermore, the CGA stated that it will ask the appropriate authorities to inform the fishing groups to stay out of these areas while China's summer fishing ban is in effect.

According to Hsieh Ching-chin, Deputy Director-General of the CGA, the Fisheries Agency and the Mainland Affairs Council will be in charge of any subsequent negotiations with China. The crew and boat were ordered to release by Hsieh. But according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, the detention of the vessel was a result of "normal law enforcement" and the appropriate agencies would deal with the matter in accordance with the law.

At 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday and Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan reported that it had identified 30 Chinese military aircraft and 8 naval vessels operating near its territory. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Taiwan said that 19 Chinese military planes breached Taiwanese airspace, specifically the northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern ADIZ. Taiwan dispatched planes and ships to patrol the seas and set up missile defense systems around the shore in reaction to China's move, according to Taiwan News.