Taiwan Fishing Vessels Detained by Burma

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A senior Taiwan official  said four of the island's fishing vessels have been detained by Burmese authorities for possibly entering the country's waters without permission.

Taiwan's Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Tsai Jih-yao said on Monday the vessels and several dozen Taiwanese crew members have been held in Yangon since last week.

The island's Foreign Ministry is trying to get in touch with the Burmese government.

Tsai declined to release the names of the vessels or to say how many crew members were detained.

Local media identified the two vessels as the "Ho Yi Fa" and "Min Cheng Yi," and said there are Taiwanese, Filipino and Indonesian crew members on board.

It is common for Taiwanese fishing vessels to be detained by foreign governments for entering or fishing in their waters illegally.