Taiwan News
Date: 2018/12/20
By:  Central News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated Thursday Taiwan’s claim over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea after the Japanese government issued a protest to the ministry as it found a record number of Taiwanese fishing vessels operating near the islands that are claimed by both countries.

The Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported a day earlier that Japanese coastguard authorities have found that a record number of Taiwanese fishing vessels have “intruded” into the 12 nautical mile limit — a country’s territorial waters — surrounding the Diaoyutais, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands, this year.

As of Dec. 17, a total of 310 Taiwanese fishing boats had been found “illegally” operating near the islands, which is three times the number of a year ago, according to the report.

The Japan Coast Guard has issued a protest to Taiwan over the intrusions via diplomatic channels, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]