Taiwan’s Cabinet has expressed strong concern over Japan’s seizure of a Taiwanese boat off the Okinotori reefs earlier in the week. Cabinet spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun said in a press meeting Thursday that Japan had seized three Taiwanese fishing boats in the past, but the Dong Shen Ji 16 was the first to be seized in that area of the sea.
Sun said that Taiwan has shown goodwill to Japan in the past, including during the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. Sun said that Japan is now bullying Taiwan and that the government must assert Taiwan’s dignity.
Sun said that it is very inappropriate for Japan to use force against Taiwanese fishermen. However, he said the government has not yet decided when to send the coast guard vessels to protect boats fishing in the disputed area.