Former National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) yesterday took over as chairman of the Association of East Asian Relations, which handles relations with Japan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.
The association called a board meeting earlier in the day and elected Chiou to replace Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進), who tendered his resignation before the new government took office on Friday last week.
Amid changes in the international situation, relations between Taiwan and Japan have also entered a new phase, which also brings new opportunities, Chiou told the media shortly after he was elected.
He expressed hope that relations between the two nations would make progress based on the foundations established by his predecessors.
Lee said he hopes that the government will make protecting the rights of Taiwanese fishermen a top priority.
The administration of the Democratic Progressive Party led by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) came to power at a time when Taiwan and Japan are embroiled in a row over disputed waters around the Japan-controlled Okinotori atoll, after Japanese authorities late last month seized a Taiwanese fishing boat in waters near the atoll and demanded a payment of ￥6 million (US$54,442), to release the boat and the crew.
Japan claims a 200-nautical-mile (370.4km) exclusive economic zone around Okinotori, which it describes as an island, while Taiwan claims the right to fish around the atoll. Taiwan’s previous government had said Okinotori is only a reef.
Chiou, 66, served in various positions during the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) between 2000 and 2008, including vice premier and NSC secretary-general.
He was responsible for dealing with relations with Japan and the US when he was NSC secretary-general, and is regarded as being familiar with Japanese affairs.
Chiou was involved in several judicial cases related to government scandals that surfaced toward the end of Chen’s administration.
He then moved to Japan as a visiting academic in Kyoto and Hokkaido.
Early last year, he returned to Taiwan as part of Tsai’s presidential campaign team and accompanied Tsai on a visit to Japan in October last year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying that Chiou would be able to advance Taiwan-Japan ties thanks to his expertise and extensive knowledge of Japan.
The Association of East Asia Relations in Taipei was set up in 1972 after Japan severed formal ties with Taiwan.
In that same year, Tokyo established the Interchange Association to maintain relations with Taiwan.
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