Taiwan will continue sending escort vessels to protect its fishing boats in the waters surrounding the Okinotori Atoll. That’s the word Coast Guard Minister Lee Chung-wei on Wednesday.
Japanese authorities seized a Taiwanese fishing boat off the Okinotori Atoll in April and demanded a security deposit for the crew’s release.
Japan says that the atoll is an island, and that the 200 nautical miles of surrounding sea is a Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone. Taiwan argues that the atoll does not meet the criteria for an island under international law, and that the fishing boat was seized in international waters. Taiwanese vessels have been escorting Taiwanese fishing boats in the disputed waters since the beginning of May.
Lee responded Wednesday to rumors that the new government plans to stop the escorts. At the Legislature, he said that there is no end date set for missions.
“I can be very certain in telling all of our citizens and fishermen that we have enough vessels patrolling in the water," said Lee. Currently, we are ready to adapt to any changes, and have no plan to set an end date for the patrol. We will adjust our activities based on the situation in the water.”
Lee also said that Japanese patrol boats left the disputed 200 nautical miles of sea surrounding the atoll on Tuesday.