Since the fishing boat Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88) was detained last week by the China Coast Guard, the National Security Bureau (NSB) has said that 15 Taiwanese have been detained and more than 50 have been held for questioning upon entering China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past year, highlighting Beijing’s intention to not only pressure the Taiwanese government, but also intimidate ordinary civilians.
The Da Jin Man was on Tuesday last week intercepted by China Coast Guard vessels while it was operating 11.2 nautical miles (20.7km) from the Chinese coast. Although the Fisheries Agency said the boat was in a traditional “common fishing ground” between China and Taiwan, it was within Chinese territorial waters and was accused of contravening China’s summer fishing moratorium. Outlawing illegal fishing is correct, but should not be politicized.
Seventeen Taiwanese fishing boats have been boarded and seized in the past 21 years, all of which were either released at the site of the boarding following negotiations between the two coast guards, or were able to return to Taiwan after paying fines within two days after being seized, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said. Since 2016, the CGA has seized more than 460 Chinese vessels illegally operating in Taiwan’s waters and most of them were released as soon as they paid fines.
The Da Jin Man incident is the first time since 2007 that China has detained a Taiwanese ship for fishing out of season and held for more than a week. China implemented Coast Guard Regulation No. 3 on June 15, which allows its coast guard to board and hold vessels in disputed waters, and detain foreign nationals for up to 60 days.
The new law shows China’s ambition to unilaterally amplify its jurisdiction over surrounding waters, especially in the Taiwan Strait and disputed territory in the South and East China seas. China is increasing harassment of international sailing and fishing, oblivious to worsening tensions with neighboring countries.
A growing number of Taiwanese and foreigners traveling to China have been surveilled or detained since the implementation of Beijing’s Anti-Espionage Law. China last month also released “guidelines” threatening “separatists” with severe punishments, including the death penalty. This month, it even expanded the power of its customs officials to conduct checks of passengers’ electronic devices, in violation of international norms and human rights.
Since July last year, 15 Taiwanese have been detained to face trial after entering China and at least 51 have been interrogated by border officers, the NSB said. The Straits Exchange Foundation has also received more than 80 reports of Taiwanese personal security incidents in China from January to May.
Aside from democracy activists, who are often targeted by Chinese authorities, several retired Taiwanese military and police officers have been detained for investigation. A university professor was held and interrogated upon entry to China, despite being invited by a Chinese academy to attend formal exchange programs. Others have been arrested for bringing religious scriptures or books about vegetarianism to China.
Obviously Beijing is expanding its legal warfare to intimidate Taiwanese for their political leanings. Taiwan has cautioned nationals to avoid non-essential travel to China and to be aware of the risks to their personal safety should they decide to go.
In addition to enhancing its efforts to escort fishing vessels, the government should develop a better mechanism to rescue those who have been detained and defend its jurisdiction in the Taiwan Strait. As China’s arbitrary enforcement of its laws has become an international concern, Taiwan should seek more transnational cooperation to establish an international network for countering China’s provocative harassment and opportunistic use of its laws.
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