Argentina Sinks Chinese Fishing Trawler

[OJsDad]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/argentina-sank-a-chinese-trawler-fishing-illegally-in-its-territorial-waters/ar-BBqwxgP?ocid=spartanntp

On Monday (March 14) Argentina sank a Chinese-flagged trawler illegally fishing in its territorial waters. For recently elected president Mauricio Macri, the incident could shape relations with Beijing for years to come. His nation's formidable coastguard released a statement (link in Spanish) on the incident yesterday (March 15), along with a video:

Coastguard radar detected the trawler off the coast of Puerto Madryn in the Chubut province, a zone known for squid. The coastguard said one of its vessels gave chase to the trawler, and tried without success to contact the crew by radio. It fired warning shots (shown on local news reports), but the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 then tried to "force a collision, putting at risk not only its own crew but coast guard personnel, who were then ordered to shoot parts of the vessel."

The sinking took place about 907 miles (1,460 kilometers) south of Buenos Aires, in an area known to host the largest breeding population of southern right whales starting in June.

It's been 15 years since Argentina last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in its waters.

As Quartz has reported before, China has the world's biggest and possibly most voracious distant-water fleet, which it heavily subsidizes. Last year the nonprofit Stop Illegal Fishing said the fleet had 2,000-plus vessels. This fleet regularly operates in other countries exclusive economic zones, territorial areas close to the shore where fish congregate.

China also backs its fleet diplomatically. China's foreign ministry issued a statement after the incident urging Argentina "to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details [and] to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors."

The ministry said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel. According to the Argentinian coastguard the four are being detained and will go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province.

Neither country needs a major diplomatic row on its hands. Marci's center-right government only came to power last December. As for China, late last year it worked out a deal with the preceding administration in which it will finance and build two nuclear power plants in Argentina—a deal worth up to $15 billion.
[/quartz]

[mirth]

Whoa...

[bayonetbrant]

I just gotta ask WTF a Chinese fishing boat is doing anywhere near Argentina?

[mirth]

I just gotta ask WTF a Chinese fishing boat is doing anywhere near Argentina?

Resting on the bottom.

[LongBlade]

I just gotta ask WTF a Chinese fishing boat is doing anywhere near Argentina?

Not surprised.

Back in '08 the History channel had a one-season series based on these mercenaries who - get this - used *no* weapons to help folks in Africa.

Their bravado is stunning, and the series is well worth watching. http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Strike/dp/B00XTX7U4Y

In one of the episodes they take on a Chinese fishing vessel illegally operating off a country's coast. Apparently it's a common practice with them. And if the Chinese are poaching off the coast of West Africa, it surprises me not at all that they're off the coast of South America.

[undercovergeek]

'formidable coastguard'   ???

[Steelgrave]

So the Chinese aren't claiming the waters off Argentina belong to China? Man, they're slipping.....

[Steelgrave]

I just gotta ask WTF a Chinese fishing boat is doing anywhere near Argentina?

Resting on the bottom.

[Sir Slash]

It USED to be a fishing trawler. Now it's an artificial reef.  O0 To the Argentines.

[OJsDad]

Reading the couple of comments on the article, it sounds like the Chinese like to send their fishing fleets where ever they want to fish. 

I'm personally waiting for Iceland to sink a Chinese trawler. 

[mirth]

Note to the Chinese: When a coast guard cutter is already firing warning shots at you, don't try to ram it 

[JasonPratt]

Man, when I joked a couple of months ago about Chinese territorial waters extending 19 miles out from the hull of wherever their ships happen to be, I didn't think I was literally describing Chinese naval policy.

On the other hand, China should be just about capable of fighting Argentina over the right to fish near Argentina, so...!

[OJsDad]

They better do it while Obama is still Prez.  If Trump, and possible Hilary, are Prez, the Monroe doctrine will get invoked if China gets to aggressive in South America.

[LongBlade]

They better do it while Obama is still Prez.  If Trump, and possible Hilary, are Prez, the Monroe doctrine will get invoked if China gets to aggressive in South America.

Yup.

[Labbug]

Hilary would not do anything except ask the Chinese to donate to the Clinton Foundation.