The Fuyang 266, a fishing boat registered in Geelong, was boarded and inspected by a Japanese government vessel in the early hours of Friday morning. The captain was taken away from the vessel for investigation and released after the owner posted a bond, Taiwan’s central news agency reported on July 8. On the 8th Frank Hsieh, Taiwan’s “Representative to Japan”, went so far as to declare that a few illegal fishing boats should not be allowed to spoil the interests of the island and the vast majority of the fishing industry. Regarding Frank Hsieh’s statement, some netizens in the island mocked him as “The ‘Japanese representative’ is really doing his job”. When chinanews.com reported on the incident, it also questioned Frank Hsieh’s “No show?”
Photo of Frank Hsieh from the taiwan-based “United Daily News”
“No More?” Frank Hsieh said, “A few fishing boats should not be allowed to break the rules.”, on the 9th, Taiwan’s Zhongshi news website reported that the “Fuyang 266” fishing boat was stopped by a Fisheries Agency official vessel while operating in the 230-nautical-mile north of the Diaoyu Islands in the early hours of the morning of the 5th, captain Sheng and chief engineer Hong were detained by the Japanese. In the evening of the same day, the owner of the boat, surnamed Tsai, was released after remitting 6,006,000 Yen in coordination with Taiwan’s“Fisheries Administration.” The owner of the boat lambasted the Japanese for acting like bandits and“Demanding money before releasing people.” He also complained that the DPP authorities were not strong enough to protect the fish.
The owner, surnamed Cai, said the fishing vessel was operating in overlapping economic waters and did not cross the border, but had no choice but to admit that the person and vessel had been detained, China Times reported Sunday. Because of the current fishing season, so will continue to work at sea, after 16 days will return.
In response to the incident, Frank Hsieh said he was “Deeply sorry” to have been arrested for the first time in the past eight years, despite the fact that fishing boats had been driven away, according to Taiwan’s central news agency. He also said that his term of office was coming up and he had to say something to offend people, that is, “Should not tolerate a few illegal fishing vessels, undermining the interests of Taiwan and the majority of the fishing industry, because most of Taiwan’s fishing vessels are law-abiding.”. Frank Hsieh also said the vessel had crossed the Taiwan line, even within its own boundaries. Taiwan’s“Coast Guard” can not go to support because it is outside the boundary line.
For Frank Hsieh’s words, many netizens in the island satirized, “The ‘Sukiri representative’ really did his job”, “The daily performance of the ‘Sukiri representative’”, “The real ‘Sukiri representative’”.
Some netizens said, “It is the most important thing to deal with it carefully.”.
Others quipped that “When it comes to Japan, it’s soft first”. “It’s just different when it comes to Japan. Ozuma [ Frank Hsieh ] is so great. There are a lot of Japanese surnames.”.