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Taiwan disputes Japan's claim of rights over Okinotori reefs

ROC Central News Agency

2016/04/26 22:45:52

Taipei, April 26 (CNA) Taiwan stressed Tuesday that it does not accept Japan's claim that the Okinotori reefs in the Pacific Ocean are entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, noting that it is a disputed issue and needs further negotiations among the parties involved.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the remarks in a statement to make clear its stance on the issue after a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew -- which had been detained by Japanese coast guard officials a day earlier in the Okinotori area -- was released Tuesday.

The ship and its crew were freed after the ship's owner paid a deposit of about NT$1.76 million (US$54,442) to the Japanese authorities.

Although Taiwan's representative office in Tokyo helped the shipowner remit the deposit to the Japanese authorities, the ministry emphasized that this does not mean it accepts Japan's claim of rights over the Okinotori reefs.

Japan claims that Okinotori is an island, which thus allows it to proclaim a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone around it, as well as sole rights to resources within the zone.

In Tuesday's statement, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said that whether the area is entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone is in dispute.

Japan should engage in negotiations with the parties concerned to address the issue, based on international law or with the help of related international organizations, the ministry said.

Before the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) makes a decision on the status of Okinotori, Japan should respect the rights of the Republic of China and other countries to navigate or fish in waters near Okinotori, the ministry said.

It also again called on Japan to negotiate with Taiwan on the issue as soon as possible.

The "Tung Sheng Chi No. 16," which is registered in Pingtung County, was detained by the Japanese coast guard Monday in waters 150 nautical miles east-southeast of Okinotori, an approximately 9-square-meter uninhabited atoll that belongs to Japan.

Saying that the boat was fishing in its exclusive economic zone, Japan threatened to prosecute the crew unless a security deposit of 6 million yen was received by noon Tuesday.

The captain was to be flown to the island of Iwo Jima where he was to be returned to his boat, which was detained at sea, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the boat was expected to begin sailing back to Taiwan early Wednesday.

(By Elaine Hou, Y.F. Low and Evelyn Kao)
ENDITEM/J