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| China Calls for North Korea to Release Fishing Crew | China Calls for North Korea to Release Fishing Crew |
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| HONG KONG — China on Monday repeated its call for North Korea to free a Chinese fishing boat and crew seized earlier this month, and the boat’s owner voiced concern about the safety of the detained fishermen, in the latest episode to lay bare recent discord between the two governments. | HONG KONG — China on Monday repeated its call for North Korea to free a Chinese fishing boat and crew seized earlier this month, and the boat’s owner voiced concern about the safety of the detained fishermen, in the latest episode to lay bare recent discord between the two governments. |
| The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed on Sunday that the vessel’s owner, Yu Xuejun, had called the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on May 10 to seek help after North Korea captured the fishing boat, which operates from Dalian, a northeastern Chinese port city. | The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed on Sunday that the vessel’s owner, Yu Xuejun, had called the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on May 10 to seek help after North Korea captured the fishing boat, which operates from Dalian, a northeastern Chinese port city. |
| The ministry said it urged North Korea to release the boat and crew as soon as possible, and on Monday a ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, demanded that the North ensure that the crew members were kept safe. | The ministry said it urged North Korea to release the boat and crew as soon as possible, and on Monday a ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, demanded that the North ensure that the crew members were kept safe. |
| “China is in close communication with North Korea over the Chinese fishing vessel held by the North,” Mr. Hong said. “China has made representations to North Korea through the relevant channels, demanding that it properly deal with the matter as quickly as possible and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights of the Chinese fisherman, as well as the safety of their lives and property.” | “China is in close communication with North Korea over the Chinese fishing vessel held by the North,” Mr. Hong said. “China has made representations to North Korea through the relevant channels, demanding that it properly deal with the matter as quickly as possible and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights of the Chinese fisherman, as well as the safety of their lives and property.” |
| The ministry did not explain why it had waited so long to reveal the seizure, which has come at a time of brittle tensions with North Korea, an isolated country that depends on Beijing for diplomatic and economic support. | The ministry did not explain why it had waited so long to reveal the seizure, which has come at a time of brittle tensions with North Korea, an isolated country that depends on Beijing for diplomatic and economic support. |
| China has long supported North Korea, despite disagreement over the North’s nuclear activities, and many Chinese experts see the North as a strategic shield against potential regional domination by the United States and its allies, South Korea and Japan. But in recent months, signs of irritation have surfaced in the two countries’ relations. | China has long supported North Korea, despite disagreement over the North’s nuclear activities, and many Chinese experts see the North as a strategic shield against potential regional domination by the United States and its allies, South Korea and Japan. But in recent months, signs of irritation have surfaced in the two countries’ relations. |
| The announcement about the captured boat promptly drew an outcry from Chinese media and citizens online, some of whom have already expressed increasing impatience with North Korea over its nuclear weapons ambitions and threats to the region. Since Saturday, the North has launched several short-range projectiles into waters off its east coast. | |
| The Chinese media reports said that the boat was seized May 5, with 16 men aboard, and that the North Korean authorities demanded payment of 600,000 renminbi, or about $98,000, to release them and the vessel, apparently on the grounds that it was fishing in waters claimed by North Korea. The deadline for payment was Sunday, the Beijing Times newspaper said. | The Chinese media reports said that the boat was seized May 5, with 16 men aboard, and that the North Korean authorities demanded payment of 600,000 renminbi, or about $98,000, to release them and the vessel, apparently on the grounds that it was fishing in waters claimed by North Korea. The deadline for payment was Sunday, the Beijing Times newspaper said. |
| The owner of the boat, Mr. Yu, drew public attention to its capture through messages on Tencent Weibo, a Chinese microblog service. And on Monday he issued a message saying that he feared his crew had been beaten. | The owner of the boat, Mr. Yu, drew public attention to its capture through messages on Tencent Weibo, a Chinese microblog service. And on Monday he issued a message saying that he feared his crew had been beaten. |
| “The captain of the seized boat communicated using a satellite phone, and when I asked questions, it was clear that he didn’t dare speak,” Mr. Yu wrote. “We’re afraid that the crew have been beaten.” | “The captain of the seized boat communicated using a satellite phone, and when I asked questions, it was clear that he didn’t dare speak,” Mr. Yu wrote. “We’re afraid that the crew have been beaten.” |
| Earlier this month, the state-controlled Bank of China said that it had ceased dealing with the North Korean Foreign Trade Bank, in what appeared to be a move supported by the Chinese government to show impatience with the North. Since then, other Chinese banks have taken similar steps. | Earlier this month, the state-controlled Bank of China said that it had ceased dealing with the North Korean Foreign Trade Bank, in what appeared to be a move supported by the Chinese government to show impatience with the North. Since then, other Chinese banks have taken similar steps. |
| In May of last year, Beijing disclosed that three Chinese vessels had been seized by North Korea, which demanded payment of a fine before it released them and the crew. They were freed several days after Beijing made the incident public. | In May of last year, Beijing disclosed that three Chinese vessels had been seized by North Korea, which demanded payment of a fine before it released them and the crew. They were freed several days after Beijing made the incident public. |
Patrick Zuo contributed research from Beijing. | Patrick Zuo contributed research from Beijing. |