Taiwan Not Seeking to Join Japan-Philippines EEZ Talks, Cites Overlapping Rights

Japan and the Philippines will launch negotiations on their exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Regarding whether Taiwan will seek to participate in the negotiations, Lin Chao-hsiung, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of East Asia and the Pacific Affairs, frankly stated today (11th) after the Executive Yuan meeting that our side has never requested to join the Japan-Philippines bilateral negotiations. (Reporter Zhong Lihua photo)

Japan and the Philippines will launch exclusive economic zone (EEZ) negotiations. Some observers questioned whether the government is weak when facing Japan and the Philippines, and whether Taiwan will seek to participate in the negotiations. In response, Lin Chao-hsiung, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of East Asia and the Pacific Affairs, frankly stated today (11th) after the Executive Yuan meeting that our side has never requested to join the Japan-Philippines bilateral negotiations. In addition, we have simultaneously informed the governments of Japan and the Philippines that if Japan and the Philippines conduct relevant negotiations in the future, they should fully consider the fact that our country's rights and interests overlap with the relevant sea areas.

Lin Chao-hsiung stated that as a party to the rights and interests in the relevant sea areas, any consultation and negotiation by all parties shall not infringe upon our country's rights and interests. According to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and international judicial precedents, the future boundary demarcation negotiations and their results between Japan and the Philippines will not affect the sovereign interests that Taiwan enjoys under international law and the law of the sea, nor will they affect the implementation of the existing bilateral fisheries agreements between Taiwan and Japan or between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Lin Chao-hsiung emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various ministries have also noticed that China is using this case as a pretext to continue its illegal activities in the waters east of Taiwan, interfering with foreign vessels engaged in free navigation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again emphasizes that China has no right to claim law enforcement jurisdiction in the waters east of Taiwan for any reason, nor does it have the right to use the potential maritime boundary demarcation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines as an excuse to take the opportunity to expand its jurisdictional claims in the waters around Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly calls on the international community to jointly pay attention to China's illegal acts of undermining regional peace and stability and challenging international order.

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Li Hui-chih said that Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung has already explained externally that regarding the negotiations on economic zones initiated by Japan and the Philippines, it has been stated that they do not involve the relevant rights and interests of third parties under international law. Taiwan continues to maintain contact with Japan and the Philippines and has expressed Taiwan's position to the governments of both countries. We also have separate fisheries agreements with Japan and the Philippines, and the government's position is very clear: Taiwan's sovereignty, fishing rights, and maritime rights and interests, especially the operational rights and interests of fishermen, will be ensured.