A practical negotiation system to handle issues connected with fishermen labor services should be established between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits as soon as possible, urged a spokesman from the Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC).

"Such a system, involving non-governmental organizations, could play a vital role in ensuring the healthy development of cooperation in issues involving fishermen labor services across the Straits and in protecting the legal rights of mainland fishermen," the spokesman said.

Responding to Tuesday's potential tragedy when 133 fishermen were trapped in a fire on a vessel used as a floating hostel near the port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, he said: "We are very concerned about the event and the fishermen involved."

Among the 133 on board the vessel, one was the Taiwanese captain and five were Vietnamese, while all the rest are from the mainland. One mainland fisherman, Zhang Qingliang, is still missing.

"We hope that the Taiwan side will take good care of the injured and spare no efforts in the search for Zhang Qingliang," the spokesman said, calling for the Taiwan side to keep in close touch with the mainland.

"The main reason for the accident is Taiwan authorities' negligent attitude towards the lives of mainland fishermen," the official said. He urged the Taiwan authorities to make substantial efforts to protect the mainland fishermen's legal rights and thus ensure a healthy, long-term development of fishermen labor services across the Straits.

"Again, the accident revealed that mainland fishermen's legal rights cannot be fully guaranteed simply through existing cooperation channels between the two sides," he said.

The rescued fishermen are now temporarily settled in a fishing market in Kaohsiung and Taiwan authorities said they will be sent back to floating hostels after the typhoon is over. For political reasons, Taiwan authorities do not allow mainland fishermen to land on the island.

Early this year, the mainland issued a temporary regulation suspending cooperation with the Taiwan side in fishermen labor services.

The fishermen from the mainland have helped to offset Taiwan's shortage of laborers and have made a great contribution to the development of Taiwan's fishing industry.

(China Daily July 11, 2002)