Chinese fishing crews navigate carefully as Taiwan tensions flare

When Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States, Beijing labeled her a separatist, prompting Beijing to deploy warships and fighter planes to the Taiwan Strait. Nevertheless, fishing crews navigating the confined strait say they are more concerned about their livelihood than politics.

Chinese fishermen who trawl for fish, shrimp, and crab have been playing cat and mouse with Taiwanese officials for years as they carefully monitor vessels that are close to the Taiwan Strait median line.

Fishing is the main source of income for the locals on Pingtan island in China’s southeast Fujian province, which is directly across from Taiwan. However, trips to sea are becoming riskier as China conducts new military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, which is only 160 km (100 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

At Pingtan’s Dafu hamlet, where his ancestors have been fishermen for decades, Wang, a fisherman in his 40s, said, “If no fish come to my net, my family would surely starve to death.” Due to the sensitivity of the issue, he simply provided his family name, like the other fisherman who were interviewed for this piece.

On Friday morning, Wang’s boat travelled to a location 30 minutes from Pingtan, and his crew returned with roughly 7,000 yuan ($1,000) worth of mostly red shrimp and pomfret. On one boat, around 20 people were employed.

According to Wang, each fisherman makes between 200 and 300 yuan for a full day’s labor, significantly less than is required to support a family.

“Diesel is becoming more costly, and our living expenses have increased dramatically, with the little government subsidies like a drop in the ocean,” he remarked.

China began drills on Saturday in the area around the main island of Taiwan. The exercises will continue until Monday. Meanwhile, the Fujian Maritime Bureau announced live shooting exercises off the coasts of Pingtan and Fuzhou, the provincial capital.

Fishermen won’t be prevented from going to sea by those actions, but the heightened tensions will make them more cautious about approaching the median line.

“We used to go to the wide seas to fish, but because we are not permitted to cross the red line, we now only fish close to the shore. Why take the chance of receiving a harsh fine? “Yan, a different fisherman with ten years’ experience in the strait, agreed.

Wang said that the beginning of the fishing season on May 1 was more of a worry. He and other islanders are rushing to take advantage of any sailing opportunities as they prepare for three months of no pay.

We have only ever thought about our own hardships since we have been fishing since we were very young and will continue to do so until we are old enough to die, Wang remarked with a little grin.