The Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 and its crew returned to Pingtung County yesterday, 11 days after being detained by the Japan Coast Guard near the Okinotori atoll, and Premier Simon Chang (張善政) vowed to seek justice for the fishermen.
Captain Pan Chien-peng’s (潘建鵬) mother and wife rushed to embrace him as soon as the boat arrived at Siaoliouciou Island’s (小琉球) Dafu Port (大福漁港), all three breaking into tears as they held one another.
Chang, who was also on hand to welcome the fishermen, said that the government would seek justice for the crew members and would continue to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating in international waters.
The National Fishermen’s Association would also cover the NT$1.76 million (US$54,368) security deposit that Pan Chung-chiu (潘忠秋), the boat owner’s and father of Pan Chien-peng, had to pay to the Japanese authorities to secure the release of his boat and its crew, Chang said.
Meanwhile, in response to lawmakers’ questions about the government’s determination to protect Taiwanese fishermen, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chih-ching (陳志清) said officials would demand the return of the security deposit.
If the government does not press for the deposit to be returned, it would mean that it indirectly recognizes Japan’s claims to a 200 nautical mile (370km) exclusive economic zone around Okinotori, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) said.
Peter Tsai (蔡明耀) Secretary-General of the Association of East Asian Relations, which handles relations with Japan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said there were two ways to resolve the dispute: bilateral negotiations or asking a third party or nation to help resolve it.
“In our view, the United States has the most influence, but we do not know if the United States would be willing to assume the role of coordinator,” he said, adding that Taiwan “would not cooperate with China” on the issue.
The Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 was seized while operating in waters about 150 nautical miles from Okinotori and its captain strip-searched. It was released the following day after Pan Chung-chiu paid a security deposit.
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