Tokyo: Japan`s coast guard has arrested a
Taiwanese fishing boat captain who refused an inspection and
sparked a six-hour chase through disputed waters in the East
China Sea, officials said today.
Wang Wei-shin, 44, was taken into custody late yesterday
on suspicion of illegally fishing and violating Japanese
waters near a chain of disputed islands claimed by Japan,
Taiwan and China, according to Japan Coast Guard spokesman
Shinichiro Tanaka.
Japanese authorities took Wang to nearby Ishigaki island
for questioning after negotiations with Taiwan`s coast guard,
Tanaka said, adding that a crew member was also being held as
a witness.
The boat was also carrying nine people Tanaka referred to
as "fishing tourists" and they were released to Taiwanese
authorities.
Patrol vessels spotted the 50-ton Formosa Chieftain No 2
just off the northern coast of Japan`s Minna island, a tiny
southern island about 110 miles (175 kilometres) southeast of
uninhabited disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and
Diaoyu in Chinese.
"Had the skipper stopped his boat at our request, the
case wouldn`t have become such a big deal, and he might not
even have to be arrested," Tanaka said.
Bureau Report
