US coastguard rejects China claim it illegally boarded Chinese fishing boats in Pacific: ‘host nations invite us’

In the letter, Wang claimed the agreements are not binding on China’s fishing fleet.

“China is not obliged to accept the law enforcement of countries other than coastal states for fishing activities in their exclusive economic zones,” the letter said.

US coastguard Rear Admiral Michael Day on Wednesday said the Chinese ambassador’s statement was inaccurate and the bilateral shiprider agreements complied with international law.

“We do these boardings at the behest of those host nations who invite us to board, to work with them collaboratively in protecting their exclusive economic zones,” he said at a press conference in Honolulu to mark the return of the US Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane after its Pacific islands patrol.

“A free and open Indo-Pacific is predicated upon the following of international rules and norms and laws, and I am happy to say the coastguard is complying with all international law and these are legal boardings.”

Commander Nicole Tesoniero said shiprider agreements with Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea had resulted in 23 boardings of fishing boats operating in the “far reaches of the respective countries’ exclusive economic zones”, with 12 violations found by local police.

“The targeting of vessels within the exclusive economic zones as well as the enforcement actions were all dictated by our partners,” she said.

“Those fishing vessels are the maritime militia,” Aquilino said.

In the letter, ambassador Wang said China exercised strict supervision over its distant water fishing fleets, had “a zero tolerance attitude towards illegal fishing”, and respected the sovereign rights of coastal states.