The 10th meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee took place March 14-16 in Taipei City, highlighting Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and deepening collaboration in the fishing sector, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Convened by the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the event saw discussions of operational regulations in the maritime area north of the Yaeyama Islands and within the special cooperation zone designated by the 2013 Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement.
Fan Chen-kuo, secretary-general of TJRA, led this year’s dialogue while Chang Chih-sheng, director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency, served as Taiwan’s main negotiator. Officials from the Ocean Affairs Council’s Coast Guard Administration were also in attendance.
According to the MOFA, the two countries agreed to continue following fishing rules established in 2019 and will soon hold follow-up negotiations on the basis of mutually beneficial outcomes.
Officials also urged Japan to proceed with talks on overlapping exclusive economic zones in the East China Sea as soon as possible, the ministry added.
Taiwan and Japan have long adopted a rational and peaceful approach to solving fishing disputes, with regular dialogues held in accordance with the 2013 pact, the MOFA said, adding that the two parties take turns hosting the event. (POC-E)
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