The decision to postpone talks with Japan on maritime issues is intended to give the government more time to prepare. That was the word from Tsai Ming-yaw, head of the Association of East Asian Relations, on Thursday. The Association of East Asian Relations is the semi-official body in charge of Taiwan-Japan exchanges.
The first talks were scheduled to begin on July 28, with the launch of a new dialogue mechanism allowing Taiwan and Japan to discuss maritime cooperation. However, it was announced Monday that the talks and the establishment of the dialogue mechanism were being pushed back.
Tsai said Thursday that the delay is intended to give the foreign ministry more time to assemble material and topics for discussion. Tsai said there are no plans to invite fishermen’s groups to take part in the talks, but that their views would be represented.
Tsai did not answer questions about whether the dispute over waters around the Okinotori atoll will be included in the discussions. Japan claims the waters as part of its Exclusive Economic Zone, while Taiwan argues that they are international waters. The issue became controversial in April, when Japan seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating in the area.