Three Indonesian Fishermen On Chinese Arrested Taiwan Ships, Indonesian Consulate General Guangzhou And Taipei Prepare Assistance

Dir. PWNI Kemlu RI Judha Nugraha. (VOI/Fauzi)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Indonesian citizens who work as fishermen on Taiwanese ships were arrested by Chinese authorities, with representatives of Indonesia in both countries ready to provide assistance.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha said that his party had received confirmation from the Chinese and Taiwanese authorities regarding the capture of the Taiwanese fishing vessel DAJIMAN 88 from Penghu Port.

"The number of crew members on board is five people, consisting of three Indonesian citizens and two Taiwanese citizens," Judha said in a short message to VOI, Wednesday, July 3.

Judha said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with the Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou and the Taipei Indonesian Trade and Economic Office (KDEI).

"Furthermore, the Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou will immediately provide consular assistance to ensure the fulfillment of the rights of the crew.

As previously reported, Taiwan's coast guard on Tuesday night said Chinese authorities boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating near China's coast, near the Taiwan-controlled island and took it to Chinese ports.

The squid catcher was near Taiwan-run Kinmen Islands, located next to Chinese cities, Xiamen and Quanzhou, but was in Chinese waters on Tuesday night, when the ship was boarded and seized by two Chinese maritime administrative vessels, the Taiwan coast guard said.

Taiwan sent its own coast guard ship to assist and broadcast a warning asking China to release the fishing vessel, but Chinese ships re-broadcast it saying it would not interfere, Taiwan coast guard said.

Taiwanese ships then withdrew to avoid conflict and the Taiwanese fishing vessel was then taken to Chinese ports, he added, saying three of the five fishermen were Indonesian migrant workers.