wfn.org | Fisherman’s detention highlights Taiwan’s international predicament

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3040 Edition

>May 31~June 6, 2010

Fisherman’s detention highlights Taiwan’s international  predicament

>Reported by Sam Lee

>Written by Lydia Ma

Chen Chung-yi, a member of Liuqiu Presbyterian Church in Pingtung,  was

detained by Micronesian officials in May when his fishing vessel  inadvertently

>crossed over Micronesian territorial waters.

Director of PCT Seamen’s and Fishermen’s Service Center  (SFSC) Chuang

Yueh-Han visited Chen’s family on May 16 and his organization  is currently

trying to secure Chen’s safe return. But this incident once  again highlighted

obstacles Taiwan faces due to its contested international status  as a sovereign

>country.

According to reports, Chen and 7 other crewmembers were trying to  catch

some dolphin fish near Yap when their ship was stopped by  authorities for

trespassing. In the end, 7 crewmembers were released but Chen  remained in

custody in Micronesia as of presstime on May 31.

According to Liuqiu Presbyterian Church’s pastor, Rev. Huang  Li-en, releasing

Chen and the vessel on bail requires a lot of money and  Chen’s family is

already in debt and still paying a loan on the fishing boat.

Chen’s wife alleged that it wasn’t the vessel that had  crossed into 
Micronesia’s

territorial waters, but rather, a fishing net, and satellite  images might be 
the only

way of getting to the bottom of this issue. Regardless, the most  important 
thing

for SFSC right now is finding a way to get Chen back home.

Chuang reported that asking for assistance from government  officials in cases

such as this one is often unfruitful. He also said some fishermen  who had

experienced similar situations in the past had to seek assistance  from a

“Chinese” embassy before their problems were solved  because Taiwan only

has “trade offices” in most countries.

“Trade Offices” or “consulates” don’t  enjoy the same level of treatment or

privileges as embassies when dealing with local authorities,  explained

Chuang. It’s often during instances such as this one that  Taiwanese people are

reminded of their country’s precarious international status.

Liuqiu Presbyterian Church and SFSC continue their efforts in  securing Chen’s

release and reaching out to his family. They ask that churches  across Taiwan

pray for Chen’s safety and release, as well as God’s  guidance in Taiwan’s

fishing industry and international predicament.

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