Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/30
By: Liu Chien-pang and Elaine Hou
Taipei, April 30 (CNA) Taiwan will send two patrol ships Sunday to international waters near a
Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Administration
Japanese-controlled atoll in the Western Pacific to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area.
In response to a directive issued by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a nearly 2,000-ton Coast Guard Administration vessel and a ship belonging to the Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture will depart from the southern city of Kaohsiung for waters near Okinotori atoll to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area.
The deployment of the two patrol boats comes after a Taiwanese fishing boat operating some 150 nautical miles from Okinotori was seized April 25 by the Japanese coast guard.
On Saturday, Premier Simon Chang (張善政) said that the Navy will be on standby to provide further assistance if needed. [FULL STORY]
