Taiwanese fishing boat, Japan Coast Guard vessel collide in East China Sea

A Taiwanese fishing boat and a patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard collided in waters off the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Sunday, September 27.

The incident occurred at 14:30 local time when the Taiwanese fishing boat Hsin Ling Po 236 collided with the Japan Coast Guard vessel PS-32 some 12 nautical miles west of the islands which are claimed by the two countries as well as by China.

Both vessels suffered slight damage from the collision and no injuries were reported among the crews.

The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA), which had sent one of its vessels to the scene to render assistance to the fishermen, said the Japanese patrol vessel later sailed away without responding to repeated radio calls.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said that the TCGA is investigating the incident. The MOFA has also formally asked that Japan discontinue “any inappropriate behaviour” towards Taiwanese fishing boats in the area.

The Japan Coast Guard meanwhile claims that the Taiwanese fishing boat had been operating in the area illegally at the time of the incident and that it had been ordered to leave just before the collision occurred.

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