ONE-MONTH DEPLOYMENT:The vessels carry LED display boards reading: ‘We are exercising the freedom of fishing. Do not disturb’ in Chinese, English and Japanese
Taipei Times
Date: , May 02, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Two patrol boats yesterday left Kaohsiung for international waters near the Okinotori atoll in the

A Coast Guard Administration vessel, left, and Council of Agriculture ship Yu Shiun No. 2 leave Kaohsiung Harbor yesterday to patrol waters around the Japan-administered Okinotori atoll. Photo: CNA
Western Pacific in response to a directive from President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating in the area.
The deployment of a Coast Guard Administration (CGA) ship and one belonging to the Fisheries Agency came after a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Tung Sheng Chi No. 16, was seized on Monday last week by the Japan Coast Guard while operating in waters about 150 nautical miles (228km) from the uninhabited atoll.
The boat and its crew were released the following day after the boat’s owner paid a security deposit demanded by Japanese authorities. [FULL STORY]