Japan and Taiwan signed a bilateral fisheries pact in April 2013 to permit mutual fishing in what Japan regards as its exclusive economic zone near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands. Taiwan also claims these islands and calls them Tiaoyutai.
Under the pact, Japanese and Taiwanese trawlers working in the area north of the Yaeyama Islands, the southernmost tip of the Ryukyu archipelago, and the “special cooperation zone” were allowed more time periods and “more proper” distance.
But fishing in waters surrounding the Senkakus as well as waters near the Yaeyama Islands was not discussed in negotiations resulting in complaints from the fishermen.
While the regulations were in effect during last year’s fishing season, both sides agreed to meet again this year to renegotiate them before the fishing season begins in April.
