Chile Chinese Fishing Vessels Serviced Despite US Sanctions
Chile · Defense
Key Facts
—The report. A report says Chile’s naval shipyard, ASMAR, provided services to Chinese fishing vessels linked to illegal fishing.
—The sanctions. Among them were two vessels sanctioned by the US Treasury’s OFAC over alleged forced labour and rights abuses.
—The denial. Chile’s fisheries authority says there is no evidence of Chinese vessels fishing inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.
—The fleet. The Navy has been tracking some 370 Chinese squid boats operating near the edge of that zone.
—The backdrop. Chile also hosted Salitre 2026, a major multinational air exercise, at Cerro Moreno.
Chile is confronting an awkward question about China in its own waters. A report has put the Navy under scrutiny for servicing Chinese fishing vessels tied to illegal fishing, even as a vast Chinese fleet works the edge of Chile’s maritime zone.
The report says Chile’s naval shipyard, ASMAR, provided maintenance and logistical support to Chinese fishing boats, including two vessels sanctioned by the United States, according to Infobae.
Sanctioned boats, serviced at home
The most sensitive detail is the identity of the vessels. Two of those said to have received support—the Fu Yuan Yu 7871 and 7872—have been sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control over alleged forced labour and human-rights abuses.
Port calls by Chinese vessels rose sharply from late 2024, the report notes, raising uncomfortable questions about a state shipyard providing services to boats flagged by a key partner. It is the kind of finding that turns a fisheries story into a foreign-policy one.
A fleet at the edge of the zone
Chile’s government has pushed back on the wider alarm. The fisheries under-secretary said there is no evidence that Chinese boats are fishing inside Chile’s exclusive economic zone. Even so, the Navy has been monitoring roughly 370 Chinese squid vessels operating just outside it, and deployed a maritime patrol aircraft near Iquique to keep watch.
The distinction—inside the zone versus at its edge—matters legally, but does little to calm concern about the sheer scale of the distant-water fleet parked off South America’s Pacific coast.
Air power on display, questions at sea
The scrutiny lands as Chile showcases its military strength in the air. The country hosted Salitre 2026, a large multinational exercise at Cerro Moreno Air Base in Antofagasta, drawing dozens of aircraft and more than a thousand personnel from across the region and the United States.
The contrast is striking: a confident display of air power alongside unresolved questions about how the Navy has handled China’s presence in its waters. For a country that prizes its institutions, the report is an uncomfortable test.
Why the Chinese fishing fleet worries the region
China operates the world’s largest distant-water fishing fleet, and each year hundreds of its vessels work the rich waters off South America’s Pacific coast. Neighboring countries have long complained that some of these ships fish without proper reporting, switch off their tracking systems to go “dark,” and crowd the edge of protected areas such as the waters around the Galápagos Islands. That record is why any support given to sanctioned vessels draws attention.
The concern is not only environmental. A fleet that can disappear from tracking for days raises questions about what else it might be doing at sea, from unreported catches to moving goods, and it puts pressure on the coast guards and navies that are supposed to keep watch over enormous stretches of ocean.
The awkward spot for Chile
The episode leaves Chile in an uncomfortable position. China is Chile’s single biggest trading partner, the main buyer of its copper and cherries, so keeping that relationship smooth matters enormously to the economy. At the same time, providing port services to ships under United States sanctions risks friction with Washington. Balancing those two giants, without appearing to take sides, is a challenge Chile shares with much of Latin America, and this case shows how easily routine port business can turn into a diplomatic headache.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the report allege?
That Chile’s naval shipyard, ASMAR, provided services to Chinese fishing vessels linked to illegal fishing, including two boats sanctioned by the US Treasury over alleged forced labour and rights abuses.
Is China fishing in Chile’s waters?
Chile’s fisheries authority says there is no evidence of Chinese boats fishing inside the exclusive economic zone. The Navy has, however, tracked around 370 Chinese squid vessels operating near its edge.
What was Salitre 2026?
A large multinational air exercise hosted by Chile at Cerro Moreno Air Base in Antofagasta, with aircraft and personnel from several countries including the United States.
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