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Image: defensa.com
Chinese jigger and a potential 'shoot in the foot' for the Navy
URUGUAY
Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 04:20 (GMT + 9)
Sino-Uruguayan diplomatic tension over the fiasco in the arrest of a Chinese fishing vessel
The Chinese jigger Lu Rong Yuan Yu 606 detained in Uruguay days ago in an operation carried out by the Naval Aviation and the ROU 23 Maldonado ship of the Uruguayan Navy, after 72 hours of anchoring in the Uruguayan Exclusive Economic Zone at just over 150 miles from Punta del Este, was not fishing in that area, contrary to initial accusations.
The 11 tons of fish found in the inspection of the ship's cargo in Montevideo, where the ship and its crew were taken, for the time being detained, has shown that they had been previously processed, which initially generated an incident trade that, if not settled, could turn diplomatic and even generate a legal setback.
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Lu Rong Yuan Yu 606 before entering the port of Montevideo
Furthermore, everything indicates that at the time of boarding by the crew of the Maldonado, neither the Commander of the Uruguayan ship, nor the visiting and dam officer detected current or recent fishing activities. Regarding the previous and unsuccessful attempts to board the Chinese vessel during the previous night by the Uruguayan naval personnel, with complex weather, the Chinese captain stated that, although he never turned off his AIS device (ruling out the stealth of his presence ), the ROU 23 had done so, in the same way as its lights, for which reason it did not flee (which would have been quite easy, being faster than the ship that intercepted it, which it almost doubled in speed). speed) but went to Montevideo, which was, officially, his port of destination, where, in an unusual event, he was waiting for the Uruguayan naval personnel, joining the event and congratulating his performance, the Minister of Defense, Javier García.
On the other hand, it was learned that, despite the fact that it crew on the high seas did not register signs of fishing on board, the Fleet Commander of the Uruguayan National Navy, Rear Admiral Mario Vizcay, would have personally decided to continue the naval operation, the reasons are unknown. , being in charge once arrived at the port of Montevideo, of the local Prefecture, PREMO, which had not participated in the operation. Then, inspectors from the National Directorate of Aquatic Resources (DINARA) checked the ship again, without detecting anomalies, which apparently would be endorsed by the prosecutor in charge.
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Lu Rong Yuan Yu 606 detained in Montevideo port
If the issue is not resolved before next Tuesday, the Chamber of Foreign Fisheries Agents and other entities related to maritime activity, will initiate other types of steps before the authorities, without prejudice to other diplomatic or legal actions, which is worrying, in the case of a Chinese vessel, at a time when Uruguay not only formalizes its negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with this country, but also develops a very strong local controversy over the direct sale advised by a naval commission of two OPV units to the Uruguayan Navy, for which there seems to be a strong and controversial favoritism in favor of ships of that origin, in addition to a series of complaints of fraudulent behavior within the Navy, an aspect that, perhaps indirectly, could have influenced the spirit of the authorities naval forces to try to improve the image of the Force.
Author/source: Javier Bonilla/defensa.com
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