The defense ministry says it supports the Coast Guard’s efforts to protect Taiwanese fishermen. That’s the word from Deputy Defense Minister Cheng De-mei on Thursday.
Cheng’s statement comes as Taiwanese coast guard vessels approach waters off Japan’s Okinotori Atoll with a mandate to protect Taiwanese fishing boats. Japan claims the waters with a 200 nautical mile radius of the atoll as an Exclusive Economic Zone, a claim Taiwan disputes.
Cheng said that Taiwan’s navy supports the coast guard’s efforts, but at the same time resolves to deal with disputes through peaceful means.
"Our country’s consistent policy is for our Coast Guard to protect our fishermen and for our Navy to support our Coast Guard. We have the East China Sea and the South China Sea Peace Initiatives for dealing with regional disputes. We will do everything peacefully," Cheng said.
The East and South China Sea Peace Initiatives call for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the waters around Taiwan and joint exploration of resources in these disputed areas.