ID :
23188
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 18:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23188
The shortlink copeid
China regrets murder of Korean coast guard officer
BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- The Chinese government on Tuesday expressed regret over the death of a South Korean Coast Guard officer killed by a group of Chinese fishermen during a crackdown on their illegal fishing in South Korean territorial waters late last month.
"We express regret over the incident that led to the death of the South Korean
coastguardsman," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said during a
briefing here.
According to the South Korean Coast Guard, 11 Chinese fishermen killed Park
Kyong-jo, and injured six others on Sept. 23, when the officers inspected their
boat in waters 73 kms west of Gageo Island off South Korea's southwest coast.
Police said three of the 11 crewmen are suspected of having assaulted Park with a
shovel and batons. The Chinese fishermen aboard the 17-ton wooden boat, including
skipper He Xinquan from China's Liaoning Province, were captured after a
15-hour-long chase.
On Monday, the Chinese were formally arrested on charges of violating South
Korea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and negligence resulting in death.
"South Korean authorities are currently looking into the case, and we hope they
will handle it fairly," the spokesman said.
Late last month, Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Ning Fukui expressed deep regret
over the incident on behalf of the Chinese government.
South Korean Coast Guard officers have complained that since they were not issued
firearms, there was little they could do when the crew disobeyed orders and
turned violent. Boarding parties are only given gas or electric stun guns. Their
ship is armed with a 20mm rotary cannon and machine guns, but the use of weapons
against fishing boats is restricted since it could trigger diplomatic disputes.
About 3,000 Chinese boats have been captured fishing in the South Korean EEZ
since the fisheries treaty between the two nations went into effect in 2001,
according to the government.
In the last six years, 27 South Korean Coast Guard officers have been hurt and
one killed while trying to stop illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen, it said.
"We express regret over the incident that led to the death of the South Korean
coastguardsman," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said during a
briefing here.
According to the South Korean Coast Guard, 11 Chinese fishermen killed Park
Kyong-jo, and injured six others on Sept. 23, when the officers inspected their
boat in waters 73 kms west of Gageo Island off South Korea's southwest coast.
Police said three of the 11 crewmen are suspected of having assaulted Park with a
shovel and batons. The Chinese fishermen aboard the 17-ton wooden boat, including
skipper He Xinquan from China's Liaoning Province, were captured after a
15-hour-long chase.
On Monday, the Chinese were formally arrested on charges of violating South
Korea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and negligence resulting in death.
"South Korean authorities are currently looking into the case, and we hope they
will handle it fairly," the spokesman said.
Late last month, Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Ning Fukui expressed deep regret
over the incident on behalf of the Chinese government.
South Korean Coast Guard officers have complained that since they were not issued
firearms, there was little they could do when the crew disobeyed orders and
turned violent. Boarding parties are only given gas or electric stun guns. Their
ship is armed with a 20mm rotary cannon and machine guns, but the use of weapons
against fishing boats is restricted since it could trigger diplomatic disputes.
About 3,000 Chinese boats have been captured fishing in the South Korean EEZ
since the fisheries treaty between the two nations went into effect in 2001,
according to the government.
In the last six years, 27 South Korean Coast Guard officers have been hurt and
one killed while trying to stop illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen, it said.
