Taiwan fishermen protest seizure of boat by Japan

[Nan Yang]

Taiwan fishermen protest seizure of boat by Japan
TAIPEI —

Scores of Taiwanese fishermen protested Wednesday outside Japan’s representative office in Taiwan to demand an apology over the seizure of one of their fishing boats by the Japanese coast guard.

The fishermen lobbed eggs and clashed briefly with police while delivering a petition at the Interchange Association, which handles relations between the two in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan’s government has called the boat’s seizure Monday about 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) southeast of Japan’s Okinotori islands an illegal act, saying it was fishing in international waters at the time. The uninhabited islands, located more than 1,700 kilometers south of Tokyo, consist mostly of partially submerged coral reefs.

The boat owner, Pan Chung-chiu, said he paid a $54,442 bond to secure the release of the Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 and its 10 crew members.

“As a fisherman of (Taiwan) I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Pan.

At Wednesday’s protest, chairman of the National Fishermen’s Association Lin Chi-tsang compared the seizure to “pirates asking for a large ransom.”

Japan considers the surrounding waters to be its exclusive economic zone, give it rights to fish stocks and other resources in the area. To help maintain that status, it has been shoring up structures built on the reefs.


http://www.japantoday.com/smartphone/view/national/taiwan-fishermen-protest-seizure-of-boat-by-japan

 

[Place Of Space]

Taiwan could try to bomb down the 2 meter squares manmade "island".

 

[TaiShang]

Interesting especially when one remembers that the two (Japan-Taiwan Province) signed a fisheries agreement to prevent such incidents from happening.

Not that bad, in fact, perhaps Tsai Ying-wen won't be daring to cozy too much to Japan in her inauguration speech.

 

[Nan Yang]

Interesting especially when one remembers that the two (Japan-Taiwan Province) signed a fisheries agreement to prevent such incidents from happening.

Not that bad, in fact, perhaps Tsai Ying-wen won't be daring to cozy too much to Japan in her inauguration speech.

Okinotori is a submerged rock. Japan build on it to keep it above water and is claiming a 200miles EEZ around it. Its the circle on the extreme right in the map below. It is not recognized by United Nation.

 

[TaiShang]

Okinotori is a submerged rock. Japan build on it to keep it above water and is claiming a 200miles EEZ around it. Its the circle on the extreme right in the map below. It is not recognized by United Nation.

Okonotorishima is a great case for China to claim 200NM for every piece of rock in the SCS. That's probably why China better keep mum about it until sovereignty over the entire SCS is established.

 

[Zero_wing]

Man i wish we can do the same

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

A lesson for Taiwanese and serve as wake up call for those pro-US and pro-Japan.

 

[Nan Yang]

An islet the size of your bedroom has Japan and Taiwan fighting






Normally close allies Japan and Taiwan are locked in a dispute over fishing rights off a small rocky outcropping in the Pacific Ocean, a rare disagreement that is being cast as a final foreign policy test for Taiwan’s outgoing president.

The Foreign Ministry in Taipei says Japan had no reason to detain a Taiwan-registered fishing boat Monday as it worked the Pacific Ocean southeast of Okinotori, an outcropping more than 1,075 miles south of Tokyo and 975 miles east of Taipei.

Okinotori has just about 100 square feet of rock above sea level -- no more than the size of a bedroom. Taiwan says Okinotori is a reef, not an island, and that Japan cannot claim an exclusive economic zone around it. Waters outside such zones are high seas, open to all.

But Japan calls Okinotori a true island, worthy of a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and says the Taiwanese fishing boat was 150 nautical miles off the disputed outcropping.


“Because we cannot accept Taiwan’s position, we find it impossible to hold talks,” said the spokesman, Shinichiro Misawa.

After being dogged for years by perceptions of a weak foreign policy, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who has less than a month left in office, is trying to use the incident to show strength and to stand up for fishing interests loyal to his political party, analysts say.

Ma was elected in 2008 and must step down in May due to term limits. He made a name in office mostly for strengthening relations with China, expanding trade and tourism ties, but that effort met a public opinion backlash starting in 2014. China still hopes to unify with Taiwan despite opinion surveys in Taiwan that show a majority of people oppose that idea.

Taiwan’s foreign minister summoned Japan’s representative in Taipei for an hour Friday to lodge a protest over the fishing rights dispute. A few dozen fishermen had protested at the de facto Japanese embassy Wednesday, some hurling eggs.

Japan is keeping quiet because it believes that president-elect Tsai Ing-wen will be friendlier to Tokyo and that the two sides will be able to revisit matters once she assumes office in a few weeks, analysts say.

“Ma doesn’t have anything to lose, only one month left, and this will be the last chance to show he’s the protector of Taiwan’s national dignity,” said Alex Chiang, an international relations professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. “I think Japan will hold on and talk to the new government because most people believe it will be more friendly to Japan.”

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Okinotori has just about 100 square feet of rock above sea level -- no more than the size of a bedroom. Taiwan says Okinotori is a reef, not an island, and that Japan cannot claim an exclusive economic zone around it. Waters outside such zones are high seas, open to all.

Interesting, this will very helpful to China's cause in SCS, we will wait and see what US has to say about this, when China build artificial island, US came within 12 nm with their navy and with Japan artificial island, it has turned a blind eyes and let Japan to enjoy 200 EEZ.

The best scenario for China is that the frustrated Taiwanese will turn their back on US and Japan and align themselves with China.

 

[Globenim]

Another wakeup call for those islanders who think they have an friendship and alliance relationship with the U.S. and not just that of master and exploited foolish servant. Let's see if the U.S. will pull of a "freedom of navigation" provocation against Japan for them.

 

[Nan Yang]

Another wakeup call for those islanders who think they have an friendship and alliance relationship with the U.S. and not just that of master and exploited foolish servant. Let's see if the U.S. will pull of a "freedom of navigation" provocation against Japan for them.

Taiwan patrol boats to protect fishermen near disputed Japanese atoll
Taipei, April 30 (CNA) Taiwan will send two patrol ships Sunday to international waters near a Japanese-controlled atoll in the Western Pacific to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area.

In response to a directive issued by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a nearly 2,000-ton Coast Guard Administration vessel and a ship belonging to the Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture will depart from the southern city of Kaohsiung for waters near Okinotori atoll to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area.

The deployment of the two patrol boats comes after a Taiwanese fishing boat operating some 150 nautical miles from Okinotori was seized April 25 by the Japanese coast guard.

On Saturday, Premier Simon Chang (張善政) said that the Navy will be on standby to provide further assistance if needed.

The fishing boat, the "Tung Sheng Chi No. 16" (東聖吉16號), was released April 26 after a payment of 6 million Japanese yen (US$54,442) was made as a deposit, pending legal proceedings.

Japan claims a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the tiny atoll, but Taiwan argues that Okinotori is a reef rather than an island -- as Japan defines it -- and therefore is not entitled to anything more than a 500-meter "security zone" around it.

Taiwan has protested at the highest level the detention by the Japanese coast guard, and Ma has asked relevant government agencies to step up protection for the country's fishermen operating in waters near the atoll.

Okinotori is about 860 nautical miles east of Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan.
http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201604300022.aspx

 

[TaiShang]

Interesting, this will very helpful to China's cause in SCS, we will wait and see what US has to say about this, when China build artificial island, US came within 12 nm with their navy and with Japan artificial island, it has turned a blind eyes and let Japan to enjoy 200 EEZ.

The best scenario for China is that the frustrated Taiwanese will turn their back on US and Japan and align themselves with China.

It gets even more interesting when you consider US' own EEZ claims, which puts Japan's claim on Okinotorishima to shame.

Baker Island shown below is fully submerged at high tide, yet the US claims full entitlement because it is an "island" under, as they argue.

This demonstrates, what really matters is power. If one is powerful enough to press through one's claims, anything can be made legal.

China does take note of both Japan and US actions. On the other hand, it is good to let Japan educate the pseudo Taiwan government in which certain elements likes to lick the nearest foreign boots, be it Japanese or US.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

It gets even more interesting when you consider US' own EEZ claims, which puts Japan's claim on Okinotorishima to shame.

Baker Island shown below is fully submerged at high tide, yet the US claims full entitlement because it is an "island" under, as they argue.

This demonstrates, what really matters is power. If one is powerful enough to press through one's claims, anything can be made legal.

China does take note of both Japan and US actions. On the other hand, it is good to let Japan educate the pseudo Taiwan government in which certain elements likes to lick the nearest foreign boots, be it Japanese or US.

View attachment 303059

Well said, only a powerful China can change and rewrite the sea law, the current bullsh1t international sea law is nothing but a double standard.

 

[dy1022]

so , everyone in this world, please do not blame China anymore in the next 10-20 years time!


we Chinese will do whatever we want to do in this world, because we are powerful enough and you are weak and poor!


The US is our teacher!

 

[TaiShang]

Well said, only a powerful China can change and rewrite the sea law, the current bullsh1t international sea law is nothing but a double standard.

China will ignore it if it goes against the whole idea of the sea law, which is to regulate delimitation issues -- more or less a technical task.

No international law on this planet can decide upon sovereignty issues, especially with respect to P5 countries.