Foreign Minister David Lin has lodged a strong protest against Japan’s seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat off the Okinotori reefs.
Lin delivered his protest during a meeting with Japan’s representative to Taiwan, Mikio Numata, on Friday.
Lin said that Taiwan has never recognized Japan’s claim to an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding the reefs.
"What we said in the past was that these are disputed waters," said Lin.
"Now we are going to make our stance clearer. We think the Okinotori reefs do not entitle [Japan] to a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. We have made our stance clear to Japan.”
Lin accused Japan of violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He said the government is strongly opposed to Japan’s territorial claims, and that Taiwanese fishermen have the right to fish in international waters.
But Lin said Taiwan still hopes to resolve disputes through peaceful means and create a reporting mechanism with Japan.