Japan, Philippines Launch EEZ Talks; Taiwan Coast Guard Vows to Expel Any Sovereignty Violators
In response to Japan and the Philippines launching negotiations to delimit their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and continental shelves, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) today refuted media reports of a 'weak' fishery protection stance. CGA Director-General Zhang Zhonglong emphasized that the Japan-Philippines talks cannot affect Taiwan's sovereignty, and the CGA will expel any country that asserts jurisdiction.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 13:10
- 🔍 Collected: June 4, 2026 at 13:22 (12 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 4th, reporter Huang Liyun) In response to the announcement by Japan and the Philippines to launch negotiations on the delimitation of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and continental shelves, the Ocean Affairs Council's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) stated today that some media reports have distorted its remarks. It reiterated that the Japan-Philippines agreement talks cannot affect Taiwan's sovereignty, and the CGA will expel any country that asserts jurisdiction.
The CGA issued a press release stating that regarding the Japan-Philippines talks on delimiting their EEZ and continental shelf, some media reports claiming the CGA was 'criticized for a weak fishery protection stance and passed the buck to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' were a distortion of its remarks and completely inconsistent with the facts. The CGA issued a stern rebuttal.
Regarding this matter, Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister and CGA Director-General Zhang Zhonglong stated yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly expressed the government's position, meaning that the relevant negotiation process should consider the scope of Taiwan's economic waters and should not affect the operational rights and interests of Taiwanese fishermen. As for whether Taiwan should more actively intervene in the negotiations, this falls under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he said it was not appropriate for him to respond on its behalf.
Zhang pointed out that Taiwan has signed law enforcement cooperation agreements and related cooperation mechanisms with both Japan and the Philippines. In the future, it will continue to carry out fishery protection work in accordance with relevant laws to safeguard fishermen's rights and interests.
He mentioned that the Japan-Philippines agreement talks cannot affect the sovereign rights Taiwan enjoys under international law and the law of the sea, nor will they affect the implementation of existing mechanisms such as the 'Taiwan-Japan Fishery Agreement' signed with Japan and the 'Taiwan-Philippines Fishery Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement' signed with the Philippines.
'No country can infringe on our country's sovereignty. The CGA focuses on defending sovereignty at sea and maintaining freedom of navigation. However, if any country asserts jurisdiction, the CGA will firmly uphold its position and expel them all,' Zhang said. He stated that deployments have been arranged according to the conditions of each fishing season, with vessels dispatched to key sea areas to carry out patrol and protection missions, ensuring Taiwan's maritime rights and the operational rights of fishermen. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150604
The CGA issued a press release stating that regarding the Japan-Philippines talks on delimiting their EEZ and continental shelf, some media reports claiming the CGA was 'criticized for a weak fishery protection stance and passed the buck to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' were a distortion of its remarks and completely inconsistent with the facts. The CGA issued a stern rebuttal.
Regarding this matter, Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister and CGA Director-General Zhang Zhonglong stated yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly expressed the government's position, meaning that the relevant negotiation process should consider the scope of Taiwan's economic waters and should not affect the operational rights and interests of Taiwanese fishermen. As for whether Taiwan should more actively intervene in the negotiations, this falls under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he said it was not appropriate for him to respond on its behalf.
Zhang pointed out that Taiwan has signed law enforcement cooperation agreements and related cooperation mechanisms with both Japan and the Philippines. In the future, it will continue to carry out fishery protection work in accordance with relevant laws to safeguard fishermen's rights and interests.
He mentioned that the Japan-Philippines agreement talks cannot affect the sovereign rights Taiwan enjoys under international law and the law of the sea, nor will they affect the implementation of existing mechanisms such as the 'Taiwan-Japan Fishery Agreement' signed with Japan and the 'Taiwan-Philippines Fishery Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement' signed with the Philippines.
'No country can infringe on our country's sovereignty. The CGA focuses on defending sovereignty at sea and maintaining freedom of navigation. However, if any country asserts jurisdiction, the CGA will firmly uphold its position and expel them all,' Zhang said. He stated that deployments have been arranged according to the conditions of each fishing season, with vessels dispatched to key sea areas to carry out patrol and protection missions, ensuring Taiwan's maritime rights and the operational rights of fishermen. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150604