Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-18
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

(COA) to stand up for the rights of Taiwanese fisherpeople in a coming fishery meeting between Taiwan and Japan in March amid media reports that Japan will try to restrict Taiwanese fishing vessels from entering a sea area to operate agreed by both sides in the last meeting.

According to media reports, it is rumored that a Japanese civil sector has suggested a possible change to the fishing areas stipulated in the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement made between the two sides more than two years ago. Reports said the Japanese intend to restrict Taiwanese fishing vessels from entering waters north of the Yaeyama Islands, which are located south of the contested Diaoyutai Islands.

The Diaoyutai Islands are simultaneously claimed by Taiwan, Japan and China.

The Suao Fishermen’s Association and local fishery groups in Yilan County have protested since hearing the news recently and asked the government to protect their fishing rights, vowing to engage in self-salvation by calling fisherpeople to surround the Diaoyutai Islands if otherwise, reports said.     [FULL  STORY]