Taiwanese ships chase Chinese boat

A Chinese fishing boat with nine crew on board was escorted to Taiwan yesterday after a four-hour sea chase involving five coast guard vessels and a naval frigate, officials said.

The crew of the Zhe Ling Yu 69088, a 260-tonne vessel from China's eastern province of Zhejiang, were questioned by coast guards immediately after the boat arrived at Keelung harbour in northern Taiwan.

Illegal fishing

"The fishing boat will be fined NT$250,000 (S$10,400) for illegal fishing," coast guard captain Chen Su-chuan told AFP.

The nine will also be investigated on charges of obstructing official duties.

The incident began on Saturday when the coast guard sent a boat to the sea off Pengchiayu, an islet to the north of Taiwan, following a dispute between the Chinese boat and a Taiwanese fishing vessel.

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