Premier Chang San-cheng today stressed the government's determination to protect ROC fishermen's rights and interests and directed the Council of Agriculture (COA) to be firm in this position at an upcoming Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee meeting in March.
While the ROC is willing to negotiate with Japan on rules governing both sides' fishery operations, it is unfalteringly committed to safeguarding its fishermen's rights and interests, the premier emphasized.
The premier made the statement at the Cabinet's weekly meeting, after fishermen in Okinawa pressed the Japanese government to reduce the designated fishing zone of the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement, which was inked in 2013 and is applicable to the sea waters surrounding the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea.
The Diaoyutai Islands are an inherent part of the ROC's territory, and under the principle of "safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, pursuing peace and reciprocity, and promoting joint development" the COA is to continue to communicate with the Japanese government over fishing operations near the area, Premier Chang reaffirmed.
The COA said the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement was signed following 17 years of negotiation, and both sides should make their greatest efforts to work out rules regulating fishery operations to ensure fishermen's safety and avoid disputes.