KOROR, Palau – An illegal Chinese fishing vessel and its 28 crew have been detained in Palau, authorities said, creating a delicate diplomatic situation for the tiny Pacific nation, which is allied with Beijing’s rival Taiwan.
The boat was intercepted by a patrol boat at Helen Reef, in Palau’s territorial waters, and escorted to the main island of Koror, the Division of Marine Law and Enforcement (DMLE) said.
“They did have sea cucumber on there… it’s estimated about 500 pounds (225 kilograms),” DMLE director Victor Remengesau told reporters on Monday.
He said the Chinese fishermen and 19 crew from the patrol boat that caught them were undergoing 14 day…
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