Deadly fishing
December 12, 2011
A spokesman for the South Korean Coast Guard confirmed the death of a 41-year-old officer who had boarded the Chinese trawler, adding that another 33-year-old officer had also been injured in the attack.
According to the spokesman, the Chinese fishermen had been illegally fishing in the exclusive economic zone outside the territorial waters, adding that it was "still illegal fishing."
The South Korean Yonhap news agency reports the coast guard seized the vessel and arrested the nine fishermen on board.
Cooperation
At a news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Beijing was "clarifying the situation," adding that "China is willing to closely coordinate with South Korea on this." He said China had taken steps to "prohibit cross-border fishing and irregularities," adding that Seoul should "fully protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese fishermen and provide them with due humanitarian treatment."
Seoul has recently raised fines on foreign fishing vessels caught in their self-declared exclusive economic zone in an attempt to rid the area of Chinese fishermen, who now must go further out to catch fish and seafood for China, the world's largest market. Nearly 3,000 Chinese fishing boats have been seized since 2006.
Author: Sarah Berning (AP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Arun Chowdhury