Alexa
  • Directory of Taiwan

Taiwan postpones talks with Japan

In this photo dated July 22, 2016, Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers urged the government to exercise greater resolve in protecting the nation's South China ...

Taiwan postpones talks with Japan

In this photo dated July 22, 2016, Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers urged the government to exercise greater resolve in protecting the nation's South China ...

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is postponing talks with Japan about maritime issues in order to have more time to prepare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
The two countries have differences of opinion on the use of several islands in the ocean between the two, including Okinotori and the Diaoyutai archipelago. Earlier this year, the former was declared to be an island by Tokyo, giving it the right to establish claims on a 200-mile economic exclusion zone (EEZ) around it.
According to the original schedule, delegations from Taiwan and Japan were due to sit down together for talks on a variety of maritime topics at the end of this month, but MOFA announced Tuesday that because there was so much to discuss, it would be better if the meetings were postponed.
All the practical details such as the location and the agenda for the talks had already been planned, MOFA said. However, issues as wide-ranging as fishing rights, environmental protection, maritime cooperation and emergency relief all had to be fitted into the discussions. The Taiwanese side felt it needed more time to prepare for the talks, MOFA said.
Taiwan told the Japanese government about the plan to postpone the talks, but a new date would have to be agreed on later, reports said.
Last April, when the previous Kuomintang administration was still in power, a dispute broke out around Okinotori when the Japanese detained a Taiwanese fishing boat, supposedly for fishing inside its EEZ. However, Taiwan said it did not recognize that EEZ because Okinotori was a mere reef, only 9 square meters large.
The fishing trawler and its captain were only released after Taiwan paid a fee.
After the incident, a new government came to power in Taiwan which was deemed friendlier toward Japan. Ex-Premier Frank Hsieh became the highest-ever former government official to be appointed Taiwanese representative in Tokyo, foreshadowing improved relations, reports said.