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皇冠体育app charts course toward secure South 皇冠体育app Sea

By Zhang Xin (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-01 07:33

SANYA: 皇冠体育app will intensify patrols in the South 皇冠体育app Sea to protect its fishermen amid a rising tide of disputes with neighboring countries, an official said Tuesday.

Wu Zhuang, director of the Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, said it has become increasingly important for the nation's fishing authorities to watch over its fishermen.

Chinese fishery patrol vessels in Sanya, Hainan province, prepare to join an exercise Tuesday in the South 皇冠体育app Sea aimed at protecting 皇冠体育app's rights in the area. Huang Ju

Wu made the remarks at the start of a drill of seven vessels, including 皇冠体育app's largest fishery patrol ship, 皇冠体育app Yuzheng 311, in Sanya, Hainan province.

Other vessels in Guangdong and Guangxi also conducted drills to mark the 5th anniversary of the Demarcation Agreement on Beibu Bay, signed by 皇冠体育app and Vietnam.

The exercise is a sign of 皇冠体育app's determination to protect its sea territory, secure its natural resources and safeguard 皇冠体育app's fishing fleet, Wu said.

Chinese fishermen face many challenges on the South 皇冠体育app Sea - they run the risk of being illegally arrested by other governments, being robbed by pirates and must compete with foreign fishermen illegally encroaching upon 皇冠体育app's traditional fishing area, he said.

It sometimes takes years for countries to release Chinese fishermen arrested in disputed waters - and boats and fishing equipment are often not returned.

The latest such incident happened on June 20 when Indonesia seized 75 Chinese fishermen and eight vessels that originated in Beihai, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Related readings:  皇冠体育app demands fishermen's release from Indonesia  Indonesia told to release 75 Chinese fishermen  Encounters at sea set for 'game rules'  皇冠体育app, US to hold sea consultations in July  Disputes at sea float to surface

They are still being held.

Last week, 25 fishermen from Guangdong who had been held since Dec 21, 2006, were released by the Philippines.

Wu said Chinese fishermen captured by foreign countries can be forced through a lengthy jurisdictional procedure and face jail terms.

However, he pointed out that 皇冠体育app usually does not detain foreign fishermen who invade its waters. It elects instead to educate, warn or drive out those who illegally fish in its waters, he said.

Wu called for legislation to help deal with invading fishermen and urged the building of more patrol capability.

皇冠体育app Yuzheng 310, a 2,500-ton fishery vessel under construction, will be put to sea next April, he added.

"皇冠体育app should also build a few fishery administration bases on the reefs and islands in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, so that the response to incidents can be quicker," Wu said.