Chinese fisherman accused in Stabbing of S.Korean offical

Politics cannot be left out of this thread. REASONABLE political discussion will be allowed in this thread. If it gets out of hand. We'll shut it down.

WTH happened here? Any one have a Chinese news version of what happened??

Policemen escort the Chinese captain (C) involved in a stabbing incident from a hospital to a police station in Incheon, west of Seoul December 12, 2011.

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Policemen take the Chinese captain (C) involved in a stabbing incident to a car to transport him from a hospital to a police station in Incheon, west of Seoul December 12, 2011. A South Korean coastguard was stabbed to death by the Chinese captain on Monday in an operation to apprehend the Chinese vessel operating illegally near South Korean waters, a South Korean official said. Two South Koreans were stabbed in the operation in the Yellow Sea off the west coast near the border with North Korea, the coastguard said.

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(12-12) 02:41 PST SEOUL, South Korea (AP) --

A Chinese fishing captain fatally stabbed a South Korean coast guard officer and wounded another Monday after they stopped his boat for illegally fishing in crab-rich South Korean waters, officials said.

South Korea, which had asked China's ambassador just last week to try to rein in illegal Chinese fishing its waters, lodged a strong protest with the diplomat over the latest incident — the first deadly clash between the South Korean coast guard and Chinese fishermen in three years.

China's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, urged Seoul to safeguard the rights of detained Chinese fishermen. However, an analyst said the incident was unlikely to significantly affect overall ties between the countries.

Officers from two coast guard ships boarded the fishing boat over suspicions it was illegally operating Yellow Sea waters rich blue crabs, anchovies and croaker, when the captain attacked with an unidentified weapon, coast guard spokesman Kim Dong-jin said.

A South Korean officer stabbed in the side was taken by helicopter to a hospital in the port city of Incheon but later died, Kim said. The other officer was stabbed in the abdomen and was to undergo surgery. The Chinese captain had minor injuries from the fight and was also taken to the hospital, Kim said.

The weapon was not identified. Besides the captain, eight other Chinese fishermen on the boat were arrested and taken to Incheon, the coast guard said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Monday in Beijing that the ministry was ready to work with South Korea on the case. He told a daily news conference that Chinese authorities had taken steps to better educate fishermen "to prohibit cross-border fishing and irregularities."

Liu called on Seoul to "fully protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese fishermen and provide them with due humanitarian treatment."

Last week, South Korean authorities raised fines levied on foreign fishing vessels caught operating in Seoul's self-declared exclusive economic zone, an apparent reflection of the government's impatience with a rising number of Chinese boats found fishing in the waters.

"Eradicating Chinese boats' illegal fishing in our waters is a most urgent task to safeguard our fishermen and fisheries resources," South Korea's Yonhap news agency said in a recent editorial. "The government should mobilize every possible means and continue the crackdown on illegal fishing."

Monday's fighting isn't likely to undermine overall ties, although Seoul is expected to pressure Beijing harder over illegal fishing, said Lee Chang-hyung of Seoul's government-affiliated Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.

The coast guard says it has seized about 470 Chinese ships for illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea so far this year, up from 370 last year. The coast guard usually releases the ships after a fine is paid, though violence occasionally occurs.

Chinese fishing fleets have been going farther afield to feed growing domestic demand for seafood.

With some 300,000 fishing vessels and 8 million fishermen, the Chinese fishing industry is by far the world's largest, producing an annual catch in excess 17 million tons. But catches have decreased in waters close to China's shores, forcing the fleet to venture farther.

In 2008, one South Korean coast guard officer was killed and six others injured in a fight with Chinese fishermen in South Korean waters. Last year, a collision between a Chinese fishing boat and Japanese coast guard vessels led to a diplomatic spat between the countries over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Associated Press writer Peter Enav in Taipei, Taiwan, and Alexa Olesen in Beijing contributed to this report.

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Chinese fishermen wearing masks are led by South Korean police officers to Incheon Coast Guard office after they arrest at a port in Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. A South Korean coast guard officer was killed and another injured Monday when they were stabbed by a Chinese captain whose boat was stopped for suspected illegal fishing in South Korean waters, officials said.

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Re: Chinese fisherman accused in Stabbing of S.Korea offical

WARNING!!

These photos may inflame some members. That is not my intention!! Racist, bigoted or inflammatory remarks posted in response to these photos will be deleted. Responses to these photos should be intelligent and measured

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A South Korean policeman investigates on a Chinese vessel detained by South Korean coastguard at a port in Incheon, west of Seoul December 13, 2011. A South Korean coastguard was stabbed to death by a Chinese fisherman on Monday in an operation to apprehend the Chinese vessel operating illegally near South Korean waters, a South Korean official said. Two South Koreans were stabbed in the operation in the Yellow Sea off the west coast near the border with North Korea, the coastguard said.

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A Chinese fisherman, center, is led by a South Korean police officer as he arrives at Incheon Coast Guard office in Incheon, South Korea, after he arrest Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011.

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South Korean protesters burn Chinese flags during an anti-China protest near the Chinese embassy in Seoul December 13, 2011. A South Korean coastguard was stabbed to death by a Chinese fisherman on Monday in an operation to apprehend a Chinese vessel operating illegally near South Korean waters, a South Korean official said.

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Police officers inspect a car, driven by a protester, crashed into a police bus guarding Chinese Embassy during a rally to denounce a Chinese fisherman, who killed a South Korea Coast Guard officer when a boat was stopped for suspected illegal fishing in South Korean waters, in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. Angry South Koreans slammed Chinese fishermen as "pirates" Tuesday, and President Lee Myung-bak vowed to spend more money on coast guard equipment after a Chinese boat captain allegedly stabbed the officer to death.

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A South Korean protester, center, is detained by police officers after ramming his car into a police bus guarding Chinese Embassy during a rally to denounce a Chinese fisherman, who killed a South Korea Coast Guard officer when a boat was stopped for suspected illegal fishing in South Korean waters, in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011.

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If it all rings true, let the man eat the bullet and suffer the fullest of his penalty. He doesn't deserve sympathy or any protections from the Chinese government. This guy deserves the fullest punishable swing of the S.Korean law.

I have actually heard a lot of accusations and concerns of Chinese fishing boats treading past the legal fishing zones and trespassing into other countries' waters in the past. By violating other sovereignity's waters and disrespecting it, it really caves a very bad reputation for China.

I seriously think Chinese maritime patrol should work harder in focusing enforcing the laws so these fishermen abide. They failed to understand, that they represent their country when they're out in the sea, and their classless ways are really hurting their country's reputation and bilateral relations with other countries. There's a difference of others cooking up a story to falsely accuse you, vs you're reinforcing their prejudice and stereotype by the actions you've committed

airsuperiority said:

I seriously think Chinese maritime patrol should work harder in focusing enforcing the laws so these fishermen abide. They failed to understand, that they represent their country when they're out in the sea, and their classless ways are really hurting their country's reputation and bilateral relations with other countries. There's a difference of others cooking up a story to falsely accuse you, vs you're reinforcing their prejudice and stereotype by the actions you've committed

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See, I don't understand how the *Chinese* maritime patrols could stop these fishermen from going beyond Chinese waters to fish.

It's not as if the sea has border checkpoints. Chinese patrols can only patrol within Chinese waters, so even if they do see fishermen illegally crossing over into foreign waters, would they be allowed to pursue? Obviously, any fishermen they *can* accost will be within Chinese waters!

Seems to me it's the South Koreans who should be doing more to prevent these kinds of incidents.

Welcome back, BTW.

solarz said:

See, I don't understand how the *Chinese* maritime patrols could stop these fishermen from going beyond Chinese waters to fish.

It's not as if the sea has border checkpoints. Chinese patrols can only patrol within Chinese waters, so even if they do see fishermen illegally crossing over into foreign waters, would they be allowed to pursue? Obviously, any fishermen they *can* accost will be within Chinese waters!

Seems to me it's the South Koreans who should be doing more to prevent these kinds of incidents.

Welcome back, BTW.

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Thanks again mate!
Good point. I forgot about that as well. Either way, I find losers like this prosecuted fisherman an embarrassment to our entire ethnicity. A lot of people are racially-prejudiced towards the Chinese thanks to people like these, which gives them an excuse to exercise their racism and Sino-phobia. During this time while I was away, I actually took the time and looked into some of the complaints as to why people are racists towards Chinese. My conclusion came into a combination that aside from media depiction and blaming everything to the entire group and generalizing it (and being politically-motivated), people are less concerned about the political affiliations PRC is supposed to be, and rather, more upset with how many Chinese behaved.

Anyways, I think it is very important for the Chinese government to know the quality of their reaction to this event is now very very important. How China reacts influences bilateral relationships greatly. To me, although there's a need to protect our own people, I feel we should be impartial when these people are immensely wrong like this(inexcusable), especially towards people like this, even if they are our people. This is to so show the message that they should learn to behave properly, and China is as willing to let disgraces die and suffer their proper share of punishments because the person committed a major crime and breaching another foreign state's law. This is my definition of Love Thy People.

solarz said:

See, I don't understand how the *Chinese* maritime patrols could stop these fishermen from going beyond Chinese waters to fish.

It's not as if the sea has border checkpoints. Chinese patrols can only patrol within Chinese waters, so even if they do see fishermen illegally crossing over into foreign waters, would they be allowed to pursue? Obviously, any fishermen they *can* accost will be within Chinese waters!

Seems to me it's the South Koreans who should be doing more to prevent these kinds of incidents.

Welcome back, BTW.

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Actually it's even more complicated than that. China and South Korea has a joint fishery zone, so unless China's maritime authorities push all the way to Korea's fishery zone (very close to Korea) it's won't be possible to enforce the law at all.

airsuperiority said:

If it all rings true, let the man eat the bullet and suffer the fullest of his penalty. He doesn't deserve sympathy or any protections from the Chinese government. This guy deserves the fullest punishable swing of the S.Korean law.

I have actually heard a lot of accusations and concerns of Chinese fishing boats treading past the legal fishing zones and trespassing into other countries' waters in the past. By violating other sovereignity's waters and disrespecting it, it really caves a very bad reputation for China.

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First of all, it's about time you report back, man.

Then, I have some facts presenting, before we get conlusion already:

1. The criminology investigation has been deliberatedly ignored by the media of the world - Everybody eyes on the death of a S.K officer, while S.K media deliberately airs all kinds of Chinese-S.Korean conflicts of interests in the past at these few days to further stir up the heat. The "Chinese fisherman killed the officer" conclusion was coming out before the criminology investigation has fully conducted - while honestly, the scene was a mess, some rumor (although of course more Chinese netizens believes rather than others) has it that the officer was die from friendly-fire of some high-pressure riot weapon. - That is why a transparent and fully investigation is desperately needed here.

2. The Chinese fish boat (along with all those aboard) crossed the line, literally. However, the incident place is not sovereignity water but the *most troublesome* EEZ water of S.K. - China and S.K. have had aggrement on the establishment(draw the line of) of the overlapping EEZs, which, draws domestic fire both being accused of being traitor and gives the other side impunity - I mentioning this is because, *operationally*, both govts have agreed when doing "police raid" on their EEZ, would do so jointly, and / or give the other side enough "room for diplomatic maneuver" - but this idea never happend / excercised at the Korean controled part. - Not try to deny the facts here, but there would be no casualty if the raid has been conducted more... 顾大局 "subtlelly caculated"...

3. Obviusly the Chinese fisherman would being legally punished at last - but it would be much much much more "good resulted", if the investigation and trial being fair, transparent, and not effected by racial hatrates.


Edit:

I got something else to say, but it's not actully "fit the mood" of this subject, so the following comments is subject to modulation -


Air (and many others), you should know that, the "Chinese fisherman's action resulted a S.Korean officer's death" is indeed bad and plain, but the "Chinese fishermen trans-passing" thing (which is the CAUSE, the police raid is the consequence), is far more complex.

Like I stated above, the water especially the traditional fishing water, were friendly (or at least, non-concerning-ly) shared and used, by both Chinese and Koreans (both Korea), before the concept of EEZ comes to play. That's not hundreds years ago we are talking about, it is a historicall fact as late as until Korean war divided the people ashored Yellow sea.

Once the EEZ being introduced into the area, NO ONE actully plays fair on it, trans-passing is like breakfast for everyone. China, by her own strategical (and capability constrain) reason, established (draw the line of) the Chinese EEZ with South Korea - a much smaller area; and have much less martime patrol and enforcement over those Korean fishermen who trans-passed, than the Chinese fishermen who being policed by Korean counterpart, even today.

Economic magic always heat things up - When Koreans who passed into Chinese water only gets chased away (without meaningful punishment), and mean time:
1. Chinese fishers fish less, 2. have heavy fines when caught by Korean authorities for trans-passing, and 3. have no special-treatment at their own water (the Chinese part of EEZ water is almost open to everyone, Korean fish corporates by paying a laughable administration fee, can HARVEST here) - Chinese fishers are virtually dying chronicly.

Gang up and trans-passing to the other side for "business expansion", or hunger to death, Chinese fishers choose the former.

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Now let's put political correctness aside, should it that everyone being 顾大局 "subtlelly caculated", and put win-win stratgical governmental "understanding" on top of "have room to maneuver" kind of frontline maritime administration, no fisher nor maritime officer would need to pay the unbearable price, throughout the region and throughout times.

Thanks Red Sword for shedding more light on this matter. This is a good example of never listening to only one side of the story.

i don't see the SK guard use any sharp object or other potentialy fatal self defense tool



both sides will have their arguments on this, what matters is the official stance of each government, which are both being quiet on this, i.e don't want to stir more trouble

the public outcry in South Korea is big though, and their public protest as usual is overwhelming
i saw some flag burning, and the poor captain received a grand farewell, RIP anyway

PRC will probably leave the offender to ROK's law and punishment

paintgun said:

i don't see the SK guard use any sharp object or other potentialy fatal self defense tool

both sides will have their arguments on this, what matters is the official stance of each government, which are both being quiet on this, i.e don't want to stir more trouble

the public outcry in South Korea is big though, and their public protest as usual is overwhelming
i saw some flag burning, and the poor captain received a grand farewell, RIP anyway

PRC will probably leave the offender to ROK's law and punishment

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That pic, if it is an actuyal pic of the incident, shows the closest SK guardsman using some form of baton-riot device, while the one CHinese sailor is using a stick or staff to keep the SK people off the boat. The other Chinese sailor is clearly unhappy about the eminent boarding and looks like he will oppose it.

In such situations, once a S Korean Guard boat is on the scene and they are probably fairly well armed, the Chinese should simply have heaved to and worked peacefully. By physically resisting the boarding, they almost ensured some injury/violence.

These things are never pretty. Heck, up in Alaska, during Bristol Bays Red Salmon fishing season, over 1900 fishing boats converge annually. Vey crowded, very competitive, and the Alaska State troopers have similar incidents with our own American fishermen in the frenzy to make the most of the catch...particularly when boats intrude into restricted waters to do so and occassionally...far away from any town or settlement...get into physical confrontations with the troopers.