Taiwan Signs Fisheries Agreement with Japan
Japan and Taiwan have agreed to amend fishing regulations in a fishing pact related to waters off a cluster of Taiwan-claimed, Japan-administered islands in the East China Sea.
The changes to the rules are to allow for freer fishing operations around the Diaoyutai Islands, while avoiding friction between vessels.
During the fourth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan fishing commission, the two sides agreed to make some amendments to the fishing regulations applied to Taiwanese and Japanese fishing vessels operating in a designated area in the East China Sea where both are allowed to operate freely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The amendments, which went into immediate effect, include the provision that Taiwanese and Japanese fishing boats take turns operating in the area north of the Yaeyama Islands and maintain a 4 nautical mile (7.4km) distance between each boat while fishing there, a Taiwanese official said.
Noting that Japanese boats set their lines in a north-south direction, the official said, the amendments are aimed at avoiding friction between Taiwanese and Japanese fishing boats caused by the different operating methods.
Under the terms of the agreement, Taiwanese and Japanese boats can operate freely in a 74,300-square-kilometer area around the uninhabited islets, Taiwan's Fisheries Agency said.
The Diaoyutais, some 100 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, have been under Japan's administrative control since 1972 but are also claimed by Taiwan and China, which calls them Diaoyu.