Fisheries Agency Director-General Tsay Tzu-yaw says that a visit of Taiwanese officials to the Philippines has helped to ease bilateral tensions over disputed waters.
Tsay was speaking on Friday. Officials from government bodies including the Coast Guard Administration and Fisheries Agency were in the Philippines to encourage the Philippine government to adopt a bilateral fisheries agreement.
During their visit, which lasted from Tuesday to Thursday, they met with representatives of Philippine government agencies.
Tsay said that Taiwan and the Philippines have spent the past two years reaching a consensus on the content of a bilateral fisheries agreement. However, he also said that certain Philippine officials still have reservation about the agreement.
Tsay said that Philippine president Benigno Aquino must call an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the details of the agreement.
Taiwanese diplomats in the Philippines have expressed cautious optimism that the agreement could be signed before the end of July.