China to jail foreign fishermen who ply trade in sovereign waters
Previously, they would be driven out after their boats and gear confiscated but new judicial interpretation allows for one year sentence
People who are caught illegally fishing in Chinese waters could face up to one year in jail, China’s top court said on Tuesday in an apparent attempt to enforce maritime sovereignty amid territorial tensions with neighbours.
The Supreme People’s Court interpretation came following the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, that China had violated the fishing rights of the Philippines by preventing its citizens from fishing in the South China Sea. Beijing has refused to accept the ruling.
According to the new jurisdictional interpretation, which came into effect on Tuesday, foreign vessels and their crews illegally entering Chinese waters – including China’s contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves – had been involved in crimes and could face trial, Professor Wang Hanling of the Chinese Academy of Social Science said.
Now [authorities] know clearly what to do when illegal fishermen enter the waters
“When it came to illegal fishing by foreign fishermen before, we usually just drove them out, or, in some serious cases, confiscated the goods or fishing tools but finally would let them go rather than taking them to court,” Wang said.
“Now [Chinese courts and law enforcement officials] know clearly what to do when illegal fishermen enter the waters.”