Palau agrees to release 25 Chinese nationals
An illegal fishing vessel and several speed boats that were found in Palau's waters earlier this month has further underscored Palau's need for military assistance from the United States under the Compacts of Free Association.
By KUAM Newsby Mindy Aguon
Guam - An illegal fishing vessel and several speed boats that were found in Palau's waters earlier this month has further underscored Palau's need for military assistance from the United States under the Compacts of Free Association. Palau president Johnson Toribiong says 25 Chinese nationals have been detained for illegal entry and illegal fishing.
One Chinese national died from a gunshot wound and two Palauan police officers and an American pilot went missing after their plane crashed. "We have struck a deal," said Toribiong. "The court has decided to fine each fisherman $1,000 and they go home for illegal entry and fishing. We have no facilities to accommodate 25 Chinese fishermen. In terms of entry, we can only fine them but in this case they have no boat to take them home so one of them condition was for them to transport the fishermen back to china because they burned their mothership."
Toribiong says the entire situation has raised concerns of a possible ulterior motive by the Chinese other than illegal fishing. The president says most just pay their fines and leave Palau, but this time the crew burned the mothership and the speed boats attempted to evade Palauan authorities.