Why Ecuador was angered by a Chinese flotilla near its waters
At the end of July, Ecuador was on alert as a flotilla of 260 Chinese fishing vessels was sighted near the Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose aquatic species such as manta rays and sharks have been endangered by commercial fishing.Every year, Ecuador faces the challenge of protecting its natural habitat from Chinese vessels.Ecuador’s Defence Minister said the situation is repeated every year, when ships reach the outer limit of the archipelago, outside the country’s exclusive zone.The flotilla, which also consisted of some Liberia and Panama-flagged vessels, was detected in an international water corridor situated between two areas of Ecuadorian jurisdiction – 200 miles away from both the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador.In 2019, 245 Chinese fishing vessels we
