The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday denied it had been informed of plans by some fishermen to sail to the disputed Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to bolster Taiwan’s claim to sovereignty over the island chain, but said it would protect Taiwanese fishermen who travel to the area.
The coast guard’s remarks came in the wake of media reports that said fishermen in Yilan County were planning to sail to the islands on Saturday to illustrate Taiwan’s territorial claim over them. The islands lie about 120 nautical miles (220km) northeast of the country. According to the media reports, the coast guard said it is to dispatch patrol vessels to protect them.
The coast guard said it will continue its regular missions to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in waters near the islands.
Meanwhile, responding to media reports that 1,000 China-registered fishing boats were to set sail for the islands yesterday to illustrate China’s claim to the disputed chain, the coast guard said that since a Chinese summer fishing moratorium has been lifted, it is highly unlikely that so many Chinese fishing boats would converge on the island cluster at once.
It said some of the boats are probably just sailing to other fishing grounds in the surrounding area.
Suao Fishermen’s Association director Lin Yueh-ying (林月英) said the disputed region is rich in natural resources and said that if fishermen voluntarily sail to the region to protest, the association will definitely lend assistance.
Meanwhile, Yilan County Councilor Lin Chi-shan (林棋山), of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), said the Taiwanese fishermen planning to sail to the Diaoyutais on Saturday are set to travel aboard 60 fishing vessels and asked for NT$5 million (US$170,160) from the county government in fuel subsidies. As far as the Republic of China government is concerned, the islands are under the administration of Yilan County, he said.
According to the councilor, the county government would be failing to support Taiwan’s position on the Diaoyutais issue if it refuses to subsidize the fishermen.
However, Yilan County Commissioner Lin Tsung-hsien (林聰賢) has declined to hand over any cash, saying that the focus should instead be on laying the groundwork for the next round of fishing rights talks between Taiwan and Japan.
Japan recently purchased three of the disputed islands from their private owners, prompting large-scale violent protests against Japan in China. The two countries, along with Taiwan, claim sovereignty over the islands.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
RSS