Russian coastguards have seized a Chinese fishing boat and detained 17 sailors after reportedly opening fire on the vessel, state media and consular officials said Wednesday.
The sailors are being held for fishing illegally and have been taken to the eastern Russian port of Nakhodka for "investigation", said a statement on the website of China's consulate in the eastern city of Khabarovsk.
The two ships were seized for entering a Russian exclusive economic zone, according to the consulate in the port city of Vladivostok who was notified by the coastal service of Russia's Far-East Primorsky region.
The consulate said it may solve the issue by paying fines after holding negotiations with Russia and captains of the detained fishing vessels.
The consulate added that it was trying to find out if all the fishermen were accounted for.
The two ships were from the city of Weihai in China's eastern Shandong Province, the consulate said. One ship was detained at the port of Nakhodka, while the other ship was heading there.
According to RIA Novosti state news agency, a Russian coast guard vessel fired warning shots and then opened targeted fire to stop the Chinese fishing ships. The news agency says none of the fishermen have been harmed in the incident.
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