Authorities in mainland China have returned a Taiwanese fishing boat and released its captain, more than four months after they were seized near Quemoy islands.
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The Da Jin Man 88 and its captain, surnamed Hong, were repatriated on Friday, according to media reports in Taiwan.
Hong and four other crewmen were detained when their vessel was seized in early July by the China Coast Guard. He remained in custody pending investigations after the others – one from Taiwan and the rest Indonesian – were released in mid-August.
Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said on Friday that Hong had been released after relevant departments imposed penalties, but did not elaborate further.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported that the boat and Hong were released after a fine of about 210,000 yuan (US$29,000).
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Taiwanese coastguard patrol vessels escorted the boat to a port in Penghu, according to the report.