Focus Tasiwan
Date: 2016/04/26
By: Tang Pei-chun, Kuo Chih-hsuan, Yang Shu-min, Yang Ming-chu,
Y.F. Low and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, April 26 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew, which had been detained by

Japanese coast guard Monday in a disputed area of the Pacific Ocean, was released Tuesday afternoon after the owner paid a security deposit of NT$1.76 million (US$54,442), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The “Tung Sheng Chi No. 16,” which is registered in Pingtung County, was detained by Japanese coast guard early Monday in waters 150 nautical miles east-southeast of Okinotori, an 9-square-meter uninhabited atoll that belongs to Japan.

Saying that the boat was fishing in its exclusive economic zone, Japan threatened to prosecute the crew unless a security deposit of 6 million yen (NT$1.76 million) was received by noon Tuesday.

The boat owner Pan Chung-chiu (潘忠秋) on Tuesday morning remitted the full amount to Taiwan’s representative office in Japan for transfer to the Japanese authorities and was notified by Japan that the boat and its crew would be released.     [FULL  STORY]