TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four fishermen detained by China were released and returned to Taiwan after 40 days.

Crew members from the Penghu-registered fishing vessel, Da Jin Man 88, were transported by a small boat to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, CNA reported. They were then transferred to the Da Jin Man 96, which belongs to the same owner as the former ship. 

The crew members include a Taiwanese surnamed Ting and three Indonesians (Ridho Nugroho, Iskandar, and Sendi Riyani). The ship’s captain, surnamed Hong, and the ship remain detained in China due to ongoing legal proceedings.

The crew was accused of crossing into Chinese waters while fishing. Following negotiations mediated by former Legislator Lin Bing-kun (林炳坤) and former Deputy Legislative Speaker Chen Shuang-quan (陳雙全), a consensus was reached with Chinese officials.

Chen said China's Taiwan Affairs Office in Fujian has not determined the exact date for the captain’s release.

The fishermen's release comes after Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) released a Chinese fishing boat and its crew early in July, following payment of the minimum fine for poaching. The CGA intercepted the Chinese fishermen, who were operating an unnamed, unregistered, and unlicensed fishing boat 36 km northwest of Penghu's Hua Islet. Over 100 kg of the boat's catch was thrown overboard.