TAIWAN MOVE

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 17

TAIWAN MOVE

Tuna boat captured (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright} TOKYO, Sept. 27. A Japanese fishing boat radioed that it had been seized by a Nationalist Chinese gunboat in the South China Sea near Ikuaba Island, where Taiwan has a military base.

Officials could give no immediate reason for the reported Nationalist Chinese action, but it was believed it could possibly be part of an anti - Japanese campaign aimed at the Peking visit by the Prime Minister (Mr Kakuei Tanaka). The Japanese Coast Guard said the 47-ton Hosho Maru radioed that shortly after it was captured by the gunboat, “intimidating shots” were directed at the fishing vessel from the shore. The boat was towed to the island and Captain Sachio Matsuzaki taken into custody. The Hosho Maru, a tuna boat, has a crew of 16.

United Press International said that Taiwan had reacted angrily to Japan’s moves to normalise its relations with China. The Nationalist Chinese Government has said Japan will face “reprisals” if the normalisation of relations is carried through. Taiwan has already taken economic measures to display its displeasure, including a ban on all Japanese imports worth more than $20,000. In the Nationalist capital of Taipei, the Japanese Embassy said it expected violence directed against Japanese nationals in Taiwan when normalisation of relations between Tokyo and Peking is announced on Friday as expected.