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Taiwan and Japan held a meeting about cooperation on fishery and maritime issues on Sunday. It was the first meeting of a working group under the mechanism of a Taiwan-Japan dialogue on maritime affairs.

The two sides were not able to agree on the status of the Okinotori atoll but did say communicating about the issue was helpful for further mutual understanding. Japan holds that the atoll is an island with an exclusive 200-nautical mile economic zone. Taiwan, on the other hand, maintains that it is not an island because it cannot sustain human habitation.

The issue became a flashpoint last year when Japan detained a Taiwanese fishing boat near Okinotori atoll.    [FULL  STORY]