Japan and the Philippines’ announcement to begin talks on exclusive economic zones and continental shelf delimitation has raised concerns in Taiwan. The waters east of Taiwan are vital to the nation’s fisheries and maritime resources, and provide strategic access to the Western Pacific. Any arrangement affecting this area should therefore not exclude Taiwan, nor should it prejudice Taiwan’s rights under international law.
However, legitimate concern should not be allowed to turn into political alarmism. Japan and the Philippines have indicated only the inception of negotiations. They have not concluded a boundary agreement or released any final terms.
Japan has also said that any agreement would not be legally binding on third parties. For Taiwan, this clarification underscores the importance of continued engagement with the two countries, so that any arrangement does not prejudice the nation’s interests.
It is therefore premature to claim that Taiwan’s waters have been “sold out.” The key question is whether Taiwan’s response protects its rights while preserving the diplomatic space needed for further engagement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ positive response to Japan and the Philippines’ commitment to peaceful dialogue and international law was not an endorsement of an outcome that could harm Taiwan. Rather, it affirmed a rules-based approach to maritime disputes while leaving room for Taiwan to press its own claims.
In practice, this means seeking further information from both sides, making it clear that Taiwan expects to be consulted on matters affecting its maritime interests, working through existing channels to protect fishers, and translating the principle of “not affecting Taiwan” into concrete mechanisms.
Furthermore, the Japan-Philippines announcement remains more of a diplomatic and political signal. Actual maritime delimitation would require complex decisions about baselines, coordinates, overlapping claims, third-party rights, fisheries arrangements and possibly natural resource issues.
If arrangements involve seabed exploration, joint development or revenue sharing, the Philippines would face constitutional constraints. In other words, there is still a long and politically complex process between a summit announcement and a final, legally effective agreement.
Beijing is using this issue to expand its jurisdictional narrative regarding Taiwan. Its reference to “the waters east of China’s Taiwan island” is not a defense of Taiwan’s maritime rights, but an attempt to fold Taiwan’s rights into China’s claims. Its decision to send coast guard vessels into the area makes that intention even clearer: China wants to normalize its presence around Taiwan and pretend it has the authority to act on the nation’s behalf.
This is why the issue should not be reduced to a choice between silence and confrontation. Taiwan should speak clearly, but it should do so in a way that protects its interests, keeps regional partners engaged and denies Beijing the opportunity to step in as a self-appointed representative. The task ahead is to defend not only specific maritime rights, but also Taiwan’s agency in shaping the rules and arrangements that affect its surrounding waters.
Taiwan can work with Japan and the Philippines without surrendering its rights. And it can protect its fishers without allowing Beijing to pretend that Taiwan needs China to speak on its behalf. That is the line that Taiwan must hold.
Gahon Chiang is a congressional staff member in the office of Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting, focusing on Taiwan’s national security policy. He also serves as a fellow at Taiwan Inspiration Association.
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