The Japanese government assigned two more patrol boats to the Diaoyutais area to "monitor" two Taiwanese fishing boats yesterday but no disputes took place, the coast guard said.
"The two Taiwanese fishing boats have completed their work and returned to Taiwan separately. The Japanese boats did not challenge the Taiwanese vessels, either," a press release issued by the Coast Guard Administration said.
According to the coast guard, its patrol boat Chin-hsing (欽星) cruised to a location about 22km northwest of the Diaoyutais around 10am yesterday. The coast guard discovered that the two fishing boats -- the Ming-yang (名洋) from Rueifang (瑞芳) Township and New Ocean One (新海洋一號) from Suao (蘇澳) Township -- were anchored at the location and fishing, with two Japanese patrol boats also standing by.
The coast guard immediately decided to stay at the scene in case of a dispute between the two sides, and they also notified the Ministry of National Defense, the Fisheries Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At around 2pm, the New Ocean One finished its work and headed back to Taiwan while the Ming-yang continued to fish at the site. The Ming-yang, the Chin-hsing and the two Japanese boats remained at a distance of approximately 1km apart at all times.
At around 6pm the Ming-yang also stopped fishing and headed back to Taiwan with the coast guard vessel the Chin-hsing.
No disputes or conflicts with the Japanese boats were reported.
The Coast Guard Administration urged fishermen not to challenge the Japanese boats, especially as the Taiwanese and Japanese governments will soon begin negotiations regarding disputes over the boundaries of their economic areas.
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