Fisheries Agency Deputy Director Chiang Ying-chih (江英智) yesterday reiterated that long-stalled fisheries talks between Japan and Taiwan, which are likely to be resumed next month, are to focus mainly on Taiwanese fishing rights in the disputed waters near the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), and not on sovereignty.
“The new round of Taiwan-Japan talks would center on the rights of Taiwanese fishing boats to operate near the archipelago and would not touch upon sovereignty issues,” Chiang said on the sidelines of a press conference in Taipei to promote certified agricultural standards (CAS) for aquatic products.
Both countries are engaging in preparatory communications, but the topics to be covered in the talks have yet to be finalized, Chiang added.
Photo: CNA
According to Japanese media reports, the new round of Taiwan-Japan fisheries talks, which would be the 17th round of such talks, could take place as early as next month.
Taiwan is said to have rejected a proposal by Japan to resume the talks after the latter nationalized three of the islands in the chain on Sept. 11, a move that led to widespread protests against Japan and a water-cannon altercation between Taiwanese and Japanese coast guard vessels during a protest voyage by Taiwanese fishermen in waters near the disputed islands.
Japan has been dispatching patrol vessels to expel Taiwanese fishing boats operating within its claimed exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles (370.4km) from its baseline, including water off the Diaoyutai Islands, which are known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan.
Taiwan and Japan’s 16 rounds of fishery talks have yielded little results thus far.
When pressed by reporters on how fishing rights could be addressed if the matter of the overlapping EEZs of Taiwan and Japan is not, Chiang said the EEZ issue was related to sovereignty dispute because an EEZ stretches from the seaward edge of a country’s claimed territory to a distance of 200 nautical miles.
“The talks aim only to deliberate on fishing operations [near the Diaoyutais,] while shelving any disputed issues,” Chiang said.
As for the overlapping EEZ matter, Chiang said the government was inclined to adopt an approach of joint management to allow simple fishing operations in the area, but added that further discussions were still required.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS