'Killed Chinese wielded hacksaw'

4,628 boats seized for illegal fishing since June 2001

By Kim Rahn

The Chinese fisherman was wielding a weapon in an attempt to avoid a crackdown on illegal fishing in the West Sea on Tuesday before being killed by a rubber bullet fired by a Korea Coast Guard (KCG) officer, investigators said Wednesday.

They also confirmed the 44-year-old fisherman, surnamed Zhang, was hit with the last round from a total of five that were fired.

The KCG officers announced the finding while questioning fishermen from two Chinese trawlers which were seized during a crackdown on illegal fishing in Korea’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Sea.

“The five-minute video clip recorded during the attempted boarding of the vessel showed Zhang was wielding a hacksaw at coastguard officers. Other crewmembers also used weapons, including a 1.2-meter-long trident,” said Kang Seong-hee, chief of the KCG’s West Regional Headquarters in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, during a briefing.

Kang said Zhang was hit in the upper-left chest. An autopsy body will be performed soon to verify the exact cause of death.

According to the KCG’s operational instructions, officers can fire the rubber bullets as a warning and for deterrence purposes when illegal fishermen ignore orders to stop operations.

“We never fire rubber bullets if fishermen obey the order. The officers used the weapon according to the manual because the Chinese fishermen resisted violently and the officers’ lives were at risk,” Kang said, adding they have used the bullets since 2009 but there hasn’t been a death before this one.

The KCG brought the fishing vessels to Mokpo and questioned the 24 crewmembers.

It seized hacksaws and knifes that the Chinese men used during the clash. They are likely to be charged with interfering with official duties.

Regarding the incident, Teng Anjun, consul general of China’s consulate general in Gwangju, visited the KCG regional headquarters and expressed regret over the death, the KCG said. He called for a fair investigation, saying the Chinese government is also trying to prevent illegal fishing. He spoke to seven of the fishermen for about two hours.

According to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 4,628 Chinese vessels have been seized for operating illegally since a fisheries agreement between the two countries took effect in June 2001.

The number of vessels caught increased from 370 in 2010 to 537 in 2011. This year, 333 were captured as of Oct. 14, but the ministry forecasts this year’s total may be more than 600 considering the heaviest crackdown is between October and December.

Under the agreement, Chinese fishers can operate in Korea’s EEZ if they receive permission from the Korean authorities, with nearly 1,500 doing so this year. But those entering the EEZ without permission are subject to preventative action and the authorities believe the number of boats operating illegally is five to six times the permitted figure.

At around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday, the KCG came across some 30 Chinese vessels in the sea 90 kilometers northwest of Hong Island. As the fishermen offered armed resistance, the Coast Guard fired the rubber bullets at the crew in an attempt to seize the vessels.

After Zhang was hit he was taken to hospital by helicopter but was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. Only two trawlers were seized while the rest fled.

The KCG began to use rubber bullets in 2009 after an officer was killed after being hit by a shovel wielded by a Chinese fisherman and falling overboard in 2008.