Lin made the remarks after summoning Mikio Numata, head of Interchange Association, Japan—the organization representing the interests of Japan in Taiwan—to protest the actions of Japan. During an hourlong meeting with Numata, he called on Japan to refrain from unilaterally expanding its Okinotori reef claim, and to respect the rights of Taiwan and other countries to navigate and fish in the area.
The minister said the 9-square-meter Okinotori reef does not meet the criteria of an island as defined under Article 121 of UNCLOS since it cannot sustain human habitation and economic life of its own.
A reef is only entitled to 12 nautical miles of territorial waters from its baseline, while an island enjoys the rights to a contiguous zone, a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and a continental shelf, according the UNCLOS.
Dong Sheng Ji No. 16 was seized April 25 by Japan Coast Guard while operating 150 nautical miles east-southeast of Okinotori reef. The fishing boat and its crew were released April 26 after payment of a 6 million yen (US$53,973) security deposit.
President Ma Ying-jeou said April 27 that seizing foreign vessels working in international waters and demanding security deposits for their release violate freedom of fishing in high seas as laid down in Article 87 of UNCLOS.
As part of stepped-up government efforts safeguarding the rights of Taiwan fishermen, the Coast Guard Administration’s Shun Hu No. 9 and Fisheries Agency’s Yu Shiun No. 2 departed for Okinotori reef May 1 and are scheduled to commence patrols. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking to open negotiations with Japan while upholding the nation’s maritime rights. (JSM)