Taiwan and Japan have decided to set up a mechanism to promote maritime cooperation and solve fishery disputes. That’s the word from Cabinet spokesman Tung Cheng-yuan on Monday.
Tung said the two sides will hold their first round of talks once the mechanism is established by the end of July. Topics of discussion will include environmental protection, rescue missions at sea, and fishing.
Tung, however, said Taiwan will remain firm on the government’s protection of fishing boats operating in international waters near the Okinotori Atoll, which is administered by Japan.
In late April, Japan seized a Taiwanese fishing boat near the atoll for unauthorized fishing. The incident triggered tension between the two sides. Former President Ma Ying-jeou suggested settling the dispute through the international court of arbitration, but Tung said the DPP government will mend the ties through negotiations.
Tung said the mechanism falls under the framework of Taiwan’s Association of East Asian Relations and Japan’s Interchange Association. The two semi-officials bodies have been responsible for handling exchanges after Taipei and Tokyo severed diplomatic ties in 1972.