Taiwan detains Chinese boat for illegal fuel supply

Taiwan's coast guard detained a Chinese boat on Sunday for illegally supplying fuel to fishing vessels in Taiwanese waters. The incident occurred off the northwest coast, near the cities of Taoyuan and Hsinchu, not far from the capital, Taipei. The boat ignored multiple warnings and attempted to evade capture by zigzagging before it was finally brought under control. According to the coast guard, the vessel was unregistered and had its name removed. It did not have a registered home port or a ship certificate. The boat was carrying about 500,000 liters of fuel and was trying to refuel other Chinese fishing vessels that were entering Taiwanese waters unlawfully. Six crew members on board were Chinese nationals but lacked identification documents. The coast guard escorted the boat back to port near Taipei for further investigation. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about illegal fishing by Chinese boats, prompting Taiwan to increase patrols in the area. Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has experienced rising tensions due to incidents involving vessels from both sides.