Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/05/24
By: Tai Ya-chen and Lilian Wu

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) Taiwan’s new government hopes to use dialogue with Japan to address the rights of Taiwanese fishermen in disputed waters in the Pacific, and future patrols in those areas will depend on need, Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said Tuesday.

Tung said sitting down with Japan for talks will be the best and most peaceful way to protect the rights of Taiwanese fishermen, a day after he said the two countries would set up a dialogue mechanism on maritime affairs cooperation by the end of July.

“Using dialogue to replace clashes and disputes is the principle of the government in handling international affairs, and in the interests of all sides,” Tung said.

Taiwan and Japan clashed over the rights of Taiwanese fishermen to operate in waters near the Okinotori atoll in the Western Pacific after a Taiwanese fishing boat, the “Tung Sheng Chi No. 16,” was seized on April 25 by the Japan Coast Guard while operating in waters some 150 nautical miles from the atoll.     [FULL  STORY]