Taipei: A Chinese fishing boat captain convicted of damaging the Taiwan-Matsu No. 2 undersea cable (TDM2) last year was deported to China on Thursday after paying a fine and compensation, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).

According to Focus Taiwan, the CGA announced in a news release that the Mainland Affairs Council gave approval for the deportation of the captain, surnamed Wu. He was escorted from Fu'ao Port in Nangan to Huangqi Port in Fuzhou, China, via ferry at 9:40 a.m.

The incident took place on the night of Oct. 7, 2025, when Wu's vessel, "Min Lian Yu 60138," was operating approximately 4.2 nautical miles north of a cable station in Dongyin. The vessel's net became entangled with an abandoned anchor, resulting in damage to the TDM2. The Coast Guard later intercepted the vessel and arrested Wu.

Wu was sentenced by the Fuchien Lienchiang District Court last month to three months in prison, which could be commuted to a fine, for negligently damaging the cable. He subsequently paid NT$250,000 (US$7,921) in compensation to Chunghwa Telecom and over NT$90,000 to commute his prison sentence after the ruling was finalized.

The court noted that Wu, with his years of experience as a captain, should have been aware of the telecommunications cables in the area but still negligently caused damage. The sentence considered his confession during the investigation and the settlement reached with Chunghwa Telecom.

The CGA emphasized that Taiwan, as a democratic country governed by the rule of law, ensured the court acted fairly and objectively, basing its decisions on evidence and distinguishing between intentional acts and accidents.

In a contrasting case, the CGA highlighted that the captain of the Chinese cargo vessel "Hong Tai 58" was found to have deliberately damaged the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 undersea cable in February 2025 and was sentenced to three years in prison, demonstrating Taiwan's judiciary independence and its application of clear sentencing standards.