TAIWAN: Japan holds Taiwan boat in disputed waters

Record ID: 465352

  • Title: TAIWAN: Japan holds Taiwan boat in disputed waters
  • Date: 15th September 2009
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (SEPTEMBER 14, 2009) (REUTERS) OFFICIALS WALKING INTO A NEWS CONFERENCE THE SPOKESPERSON (RIGHT) AND THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LEFT) SITTING IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES OF THE OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HOU QING-SHAN SAYING: "It has to be confirmed that the boat is fishing at the moment, or not. We think the Japanese government is taking a strong attitude towards this issue, we will keep negotiate with them. We want the Japanese government to handle this case with justice." PRESS ROOM A CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HOU QING-SHAN SAYING: "The reason for these kind of incidents is because some of the waters are still disputed. We hope the Japanese government can have a fishery meeting with us as soon as possible." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES OFFICIALS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3FTUEUOBUFUF8TT1FB38TCCFK
  • Story Text: Taiwan return nine people from a fishing boat seized by Japan that entered disputed waters.
    Japan send back nine Taiwanese people from a seized boat that entered disputed waters rich in fish and possible undersea oil reserves, the Taiwan coast guard said on Monday (September 14).
    They were sent back to Taiwan at around 1200GMT on Monday (September 14), but there are still two people detained, Taiwanese authorities said.
    Japanese coastguards boarded and detained the fishing vessel, with about 11 people aboard, at around 1200 GMT on Sunday (September 13) The disputed area surrounds the Senkaku Islands, an uninhabited archipelago 2,000 km (1,200 miles) south of Tokyo. Japan controls the islets and a vast surrounding region of the sea that has been a historical fishing area for Taiwan, which also claims the territory.
    The eight uninhabited islands are known as the Tiaoyutai in Taiwan and the Diaoyu islands in China, which claims them as well. They are thought to lie near undersea oil and gas reserves.
    In a news conference in Taipei, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hou Qing-Shan told a gathering of journalists that Japan was taking a very strong stance with the fishing boat.
    "It has to be confirmed that the boat is fishing at the moment, or not. We think the Japanese government is taking a strong attitude towards this issue, we will keep negotiate with them. We want the Japanese government to handle this case with justice." he said, "The reason for these kind of incidents is because some of the waters are still disputed. We hope the Japanese government can have a fishery meeting with us as soon as possible."
    In June 2008, Japan and Taiwan exchanged bitter words after a Taiwan fishing boat collided with a Japanese coastguard vessel and sank near the islets.
    The two sides normally enjoy good relations.
    Taiwan wants Japan to return the fishing boat and let local authorities take punitive action for entering the disputed area.
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