China protests over fisherman's death
Man killed during South Korean coast guard raid
South Korea has cracked down on what it says is a rise in illegal Chinese fishing (supplied by Korean Coast Guard)
- Stephen Hong, Seoul
- Korea
- October 17, 2012
China has protested to Seoul following the death of a fisherman after South Korean coast guards shot him with a rubber bullet yesterday while boarding a trawler in the Yellow Sea.
The 44-year-old man – known only as Jang – was shot while wielding a knife at coast guard officers during their raid. The officers were attempting to stop illegal fishing in the sea which separates South Korea and China, South Korean authorities said.
“The injured Chinese fisherman was airlifted to hospital for treatment but died from his injuries,” said Inspector Choi Jae-gon of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) office in the southwestern port city of Mokpo.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry subsequently informed the Chinese embassy in Seoul which later requested that the case be investigated “seriously and thoroughly,” according to a report today by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
The KCG said they would investigate the man’s death to determine whether the use of rubber bullets was necessary.
South Korea’s coast guard say the Chinese fishermen were carrying sharp implements including knives.
The government has vowed to crack down on Chinese ships operating illegally after a South Korean coast guard member was stabbed to death by the captain of a Chinese vessel in December last year.
The captain was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
South Korea has recorded a rise in illegal incursions by Chinese fishing boats in recent years. The KCG said there were 537 such vessels operating last year, up from 275 in 2010.
Related reports
Chinese fishermen attack Korean officials
The 44-year-old man – known only as Jang – was shot while wielding a knife at coast guard officers during their raid. The officers were attempting to stop illegal fishing in the sea which separates South Korea and China, South Korean authorities said.
“The injured Chinese fisherman was airlifted to hospital for treatment but died from his injuries,” said Inspector Choi Jae-gon of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) office in the southwestern port city of Mokpo.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry subsequently informed the Chinese embassy in Seoul which later requested that the case be investigated “seriously and thoroughly,” according to a report today by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
The KCG said they would investigate the man’s death to determine whether the use of rubber bullets was necessary.
South Korea’s coast guard say the Chinese fishermen were carrying sharp implements including knives.
The government has vowed to crack down on Chinese ships operating illegally after a South Korean coast guard member was stabbed to death by the captain of a Chinese vessel in December last year.
The captain was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
South Korea has recorded a rise in illegal incursions by Chinese fishing boats in recent years. The KCG said there were 537 such vessels operating last year, up from 275 in 2010.
Related reports
Chinese fishermen attack Korean officials
