China Video Snapshot: Fishermen Clash with South Korean Coast Guard

Background to this month's incident: an Al Jazeera report on conflict between Chinese fishermen and South Korean authorities in 2010

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Christina Wang and Iris Gao write their first article for EA WorldView:

On 30 April, a Chinese fishing boat was intercepted by the South Korean coast guard. During the subsequent clash, three Koreans were injured, one fell overboard, and three more hid in the water. Eventually, the Chinese crew was subdued, and nine crew were arrested.

One hundred and ten Chinese boats have been held by South Korea in the past year. However, this incident was distinctive because the Chinese fishing boat was not an ordinary craft but a special 270-tonne vessel carrying fishing equipment. When the crew refused to heed the calls to stop, the South Koreans tried to board the craft.

The report of Guangdong Province TV on the incident:

A Chinese official said Beijing was checking the "relevant facts", hoping that South Korea would protect the safety of the fisherman and their "legitimate rights" and interests".

South Korean media said on Tuesday, however, that the case was ongoing. Seven Chinese fishermen were freed, but two were facing formal arrest, the 36-year-old captain and a 29-year-old navigator. The South Korean coast guard also imposed a 15 million won ($13,292) bail for the release of the detained fishing boat.