Taiwan may seek American mediation in its maritime dispute with Japan over the Okinotori atoll.
The head of the non-governmental Association of East Asian Relations, Tsai Ming-yaw, confirmed that the foreign ministry is seeking a third party to mediate. Tsai also said the US would be the preferred party in this regard.
"In our judgment, the United States has the greatest influence but whether the US is willing to play a role, we don’t know at this point," Tsai said.
Tsai also said the foreign ministry will not seek assistance from China.
Also on Thursday, a number of government agencies made reports on how to handle the fallout from the “Tung Sheng Chi 16” incident. The Taiwanese fishing boat was seized by Japanese authorities on April 24 in the waters around the Okinotori atoll. Japan claims an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the tiny atoll. But Taiwan says Okinotori is not an island and as such does not qualify for an EEZ.
The boat and its crew were released in return for a sum of six million yen, or around US$55,000. Agriculture Minister Chen Chih-ching on Thursday defended the controversial payment. He said the amount was “not a fine but a security deposit” pending further negotiations between the two sides.
On Sunday, Taiwan sent a coast guard vessel and a Council of Agriculture ship to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating in the area. The move prompted an expression of regret from Japan’s foreign ministry.