Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Monday that four Taiwanese fishing boats have been seized by Myanmar authorities. Three Taiwanese captains and one chief engineer are being detained in prison.

The ministry said the four Taiwanese ships were intercepted by Myanmar's navy on November 18. They were thought to have intruded in Myanmar's exclusive economic zone.

In the absence of an embassy in Myanmar, Taiwan's representative in Thailand will be traveling to Myanmar to assist in the matter.

A total of 17 foreign ships and 120 fishermen have been detained in Myanmar from the roundup last week.