President Ma Ying-jeou has called on Japan to hold talks with Taiwan over disputed waters off the Okinotori Atoll.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Ma wrote that Japan and Taiwan should begin discussions over the dispute as soon as possible. Ma wrote that he recommends referring the dispute to a mediator or international court if the two sides are unable to reach a consensus.
The Okinotori Atoll is a Japanese reef in the Pacific Ocean. Japan claims that the atoll is an island, giving it the right to a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under international law. Taiwan argues that the atoll is not an island, and that Japan’s EEZ claim is therefore invalid.
The disagreement resurfaced in late April when Japan seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating in waters off the atoll. Japan claims the boat was fishing in its EEZ. The ship and its crew have since been returned. But Taiwan says it does not recognize a Japanese EEZ in the area, and argues that the boat was in international waters.
On Friday, Ma met with a Japanese delegation led by lawmaker Nobuo Kishi. Ma said he told Kishi that the incident shocked and angered the people of Taiwan. Ma told Kishi that the atoll covers an area of less than nine square meters. He said that nine square meters is about 1/8 the size of the room where the meeting took place.
Ma repeated Taiwan’s argument that Okinotori Atoll is not an island because it cannot support human life or economic activity- two critieria for an island under international law. Ma also reiterated Taiwan’s policy of protecting fishermen.
He wrote that ships from Japan and Taiwan both arrived in the disputed area on Friday. He called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid conflict.