Russian coast guards confronted Chinese fishermen after they were said to have entered the country’s exclusive economic zone, off the far eastern Primorsky region, Chinese state media Xinhua reported.
The Russian coast guard fired warning shots and then opened fire with live ammunition when one of the ships did not stop. The Chinese fishermen were believed to be poaching squid, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency. Thirty-six fishermen were detained, including the two fishing vessels.
China had been aggressive in claiming territories in the East and South China Sea, deploying several fishermen to lay its sovereignty claims. Chinese fishermen are often caught in territorial waters of neighboring countries.
