Taiwanese patrol boats reach waters near disputed Pacific atoll
ROC Central News Agency
2016/05/06 14:24:50
Taipei, May 6 (CNA) Two Taiwanese patrol boats reached international waters near a Japanese-controlled atoll in the Western Pacific Friday in an effort to strengthen the protection of Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).
The move came after a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Tung Sheng Chi No. 16, was seized April 25 by the Japanese coast guard while operating in waters some 150 nautical miles from the Okinotori atoll.
In response to a directive issued by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), an nearly 2,000-ton CGA vessel and a ship belonging to the Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture departed Sunday for waters near Okinotori to protect Taiwanese fishing ships operating there and safeguard the fishermen's fishing rights.
The two boats arrived Friday and notified Taiwanese boats operating in the area upon their arrival, the CGA said.
When encountering Japanese patrol boats, the Coast Guard will stick to the principles of no provocative action, no confrontation and no evasion, it added.
However, if any Japanese patrol boats attempt to approach Taiwanese fishing boats operating there, the Coast Guard will take immediate action to ensure the safety of the fishermen, which could include dispersing any Japanese vessels, it said.
The CGA said that it does not rule out the possibility of dispatching more vessels to waters near Okinotori to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating there.
On Thursday, Premier Simon Chang (張善政) said that one of the CGA's largest ships, the 3000-ton Yilan Vessel, was sailing toward waters near Okinotori to join the efforts to protect Taiwanese fishing boats there.
The Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 and its crew returned Thursday to Xiaoliuqiu, an island off Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, where the boat is registered.
They were released April 26 after a payment of 6 million Japanese yen (US$54,442) was made as a deposit, pending legal proceedings.
Japan claims a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around the tiny atoll, but Taiwan argues that Okinotori is a reef rather than an island -- as Japan defines it -- and is therefore not entitled to anything more than a 500-meter "security zone" around it.
Following the incident, Taiwan lodged a strong protest with Japan, and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) instructed relevant government agencies to step up protection for local fishermen operating in waters near the atoll.
Okinotori is about 860 nautical miles east of Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan.
(By Liu Chien-pang and Elaine Hou)
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