Foreign and Military Affairs
China urges Myanmar to protect detained fishermen
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-26 21:00
BEIJING: China has urged authorities in Myanmar to protect the safety and legal rights of the detained Chinese mainland and Taiwan fishermen, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Thursday.
According to Taiwan media reports, two Taiwan fishing boats have been detained by the Myanmar military.
Asked to confirm the reports at a routine press conference, Qin said the Myanmar authorities informed the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Tuesday evening, that they had detained 10 foreign fishing vessels and 128 foreign fishermen for alleged illegal fishing activities.
They detained crews included four seamen from Taiwan and one from the Chinese mainland.
He said the embassy was checking the information and had asked the Myanmar authorities to allow them to visit the detained fishing crews.
The Foreign Ministry and the embassy had also requested the Myanmar authorities properly deal this matter according to law, and protect the safety and legal rights of those detained, he said.
He said the Chinese government had always attached high importance to protect the security and legal rights of all Chinese, whether they were from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan.
