BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China had worked actively for the release of fishermen detained by Myanmar, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday.

    Jiang said at a regular news briefing that thanks to the positive efforts made by Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassy in Myanmar, Myanmar authorities had agreed to arrange for the detained Chinese fishermen to return to China.

    The Myanmar authorities detained 10 foreign fishing vessels and 128 foreign fishermen caught fishing in Myanmar waters on Nov. 18.

    The detained fishermen included five Chinese, four from Taiwan and one from southeast China's Fujian Province.

    Jiang said China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassy in Myanmar contacted the Myanmar authorities after learning of the detention and had urged the Myanmar authorities to deal justly with the case, safeguard the legal rights of Chinese fishermen and release them as soon as possible.

    She said Chinese envoys to Myanmar had visited the detained fishermen three times and asked the Myanmar authorities to treat them well.

Mainland official: Myanmar releases detained Taiwanese fishermen

    BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar on Monday released four Taiwanese fishermen after more than a month in detention, a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said Monday.

    The four, who were detained by Myanmar authorities on Nov. 18 for alleged illegal fishing activities, would return to Taiwan later Monday, the spokesperson said.  Full story