Foreign Minister David Lin has announced details of a Taiwan-Philippine fisheries agreement concluded earlier this month.
Disputes over fishing rights in the waters between the two countries have been an important issue in Taiwan-Philippine relations. According to Lin, the two sides signed the agreement on November 5.
At a press conference on Thursday, Lin said that both sides will avoid unnecessary violence when confronting boats suspected of illegal fishing. He said that the agreement also provides for an emergency contact system, allowing Taipei and Manila to inform each other of detained fishermen. At the same time, the two sides have agreed to set up a mechanism for the speedy release of detained fishermen.
Meanwhile, Lin also announced that a bilateral taskforce also met on November 5, drawing up other new policies which will enter force along with the fisheries agreement.
Lin said that both sides will be required to give each other an hour’s notice before detaining fishing boats in disputed waters. Both sides will also be required to release illegal fishermen within three days, provided that the fishermen can pay at least part of their fines.
There is still disagreement over the extent of areas where fishing should be permitted, but Lin said he hopes to see these issues resolved during a second meeting of the bilateral taskforce in January.
The fisheries agreement is expected to help prevent episodes of violence, like the Guang Da Xing No. 28 incident, in which a Philippine coast guard vessel opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing boat. One Taiwanese fisherman was killed in the 2013 incident, placing a strain on Taiwan-Philippine relations.