Two Taiwanese fishing boats that had been detained in the Philippines for over a month and a half are finally on their way back to Taiwan.
The Man Ji Sheng No. 8 and the Chuan Yi No. 2 left the port of San Vicente on Luzon Island on Saturday evening, and are expected to arrive in Taiwan on Monday.
The boats were detained after the Man Ji Sheng No. 8 ran aground in rough winds triggered by a typhoon. It was later towed back to sea by the other Taiwanese fishing boat.
But during a check on the original boat as it was being pulled back to sea, the Philippine Coast Guard found only one person on board. That violated the country’s regulations on the minimum number of workers on a fishing vessel. The Philippines’ maritime law enforcement agency then detained the ship for further investigation.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration held negotiations with Philippine officials, paving the way for the two ships to return to Taiwan.