Premier Chang San-cheng has called on the Agriculture Ministry to defend the rights of Taiwan’s fishermen near the Diaoyutai Islands. Chang was speaking Thursday during a Cabinet meeting.
Chang’s call comes after Japanese officials and fishermen petitioned Tokyo to narrow the area where Taiwanese fishing boats can operate near the islands.
The Diaoyutai Islands are also known by their Japanese name, the Senkaku Islands. They are located in the East China Sea. Taiwan claims sovereignty over the islands, though they are under de facto Japanese control.
Agriculture Ministry officials and officials from Japan are set to hold a meeting on fishing rights in March. Chang said that the Agriculture Ministry must uphold the rights of Taiwan’s fishermen.
The foreign ministry says that the petition does not reflect Japanese government policy. Ministry spokesperson Eleanor Wang said Thursday that Japan has not put proposed limits on Taiwanese fishing on the agenda for the meeting in March. However, Wang said that if Japan does move to put the proposed limits on the table, Taiwanese officials will defend the rights and interests of Taiwan’s fishermen.