Japan-Philippines EEZ Talks Begin; KMT and TPP Propose Executive Yuan Report to Legislature
Following the launch of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines, the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucuses in the Legislative Yuan proposed on June 5 that the Executive Yuan convene a "National Maritime Rights Conference" and deliver a special report to the legislature. The proposal argues that the delimitation area overlaps significantly with Taiwan's 200-nautical-mile EEZ but excludes Taiwan, effectively stripping its maritime sovereignty and fishing rights. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu referred the proposal directly to second reading and party caucus negotiations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 13:46
- 🔍 Collected: June 5, 2026 at 13:58 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 15:12 (25h 13m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 5) Japan and the Philippines have initiated negotiations on the delimitation of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and continental shelves. The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucuses in the Legislative Yuan proposed on Wednesday that the Executive Yuan convene a "National Maritime Rights Conference" and deliver a special report to the legislature. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu announced that the proposal would be sent directly to second reading and referred to party caucus negotiations.
During the morning session of the Legislative Yuan, the KMT and TPP caucuses proposed that Japan and the Philippines announced on May 28 the launch of "Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf Maritime Boundary Negotiations." The proposed delimitation area highly overlaps with Taiwan's legally claimed 200-nautical-mile EEZ, yet Taiwan is excluded from the negotiations, effectively depriving the country of its maritime sovereignty and fishing rights.
The proposal criticized the government for affirming the actions of Japan and the Philippines, which it described as trespassing and unilaterally carving up Taiwan's 200-nautical-mile sovereignty and fishing rights. It also criticized the government for stating that China need not interfere in Taiwan's sovereignty issues when China dispatched vessels to the eastern waters for "patrols," arguing that a mindset of blindly opposing China while being unable to protect sovereignty has been rejected by the public.
The proposal recommends that the Legislative Yuan pass a resolution instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately convey a stern position to the Japanese and Philippine governments, protesting and demanding that any delimitation agreement negotiations involving Taiwan's EEZ be conducted through trilateral negotiations among Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines to safeguard national sovereignty.
The proposal also states that the Ocean Affairs Council and the Coast Guard Administration should immediately propose an "Eastern Waters Fishery Protection Project" to strengthen patrol capabilities, upgrade the real-time reporting system for fishing vessels, and establish an inter-ministerial fishery protection mechanism to ensure the safety of fishermen.
Furthermore, the proposal calls on the Executive Yuan to convene a "National Maritime Rights Conference" involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ocean Affairs Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of National Defense to assess the impact of the Japan-Philippines delimitation talks on Taiwan's fishing rights, energy development, seabed facilities, and national maritime strategy, and to submit a comprehensive assessment report outlining the government's response.
The proposal demands that the Executive Yuan, based on the conference's conclusions, deliver a special report to the Legislative Yuan and respond to questions, demonstrating the government's concrete actions and determination to defend sovereignty, protect fishing rights, and safeguard fishermen's livelihoods.
Presiding over the meeting, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu announced that, in accordance with the consensus among party caucuses, the case would be sent directly to second reading and referred to party caucus negotiations, with the KMT and TPP caucuses responsible for convening the negotiations. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150605
During the morning session of the Legislative Yuan, the KMT and TPP caucuses proposed that Japan and the Philippines announced on May 28 the launch of "Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf Maritime Boundary Negotiations." The proposed delimitation area highly overlaps with Taiwan's legally claimed 200-nautical-mile EEZ, yet Taiwan is excluded from the negotiations, effectively depriving the country of its maritime sovereignty and fishing rights.
The proposal criticized the government for affirming the actions of Japan and the Philippines, which it described as trespassing and unilaterally carving up Taiwan's 200-nautical-mile sovereignty and fishing rights. It also criticized the government for stating that China need not interfere in Taiwan's sovereignty issues when China dispatched vessels to the eastern waters for "patrols," arguing that a mindset of blindly opposing China while being unable to protect sovereignty has been rejected by the public.
The proposal recommends that the Legislative Yuan pass a resolution instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately convey a stern position to the Japanese and Philippine governments, protesting and demanding that any delimitation agreement negotiations involving Taiwan's EEZ be conducted through trilateral negotiations among Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines to safeguard national sovereignty.
The proposal also states that the Ocean Affairs Council and the Coast Guard Administration should immediately propose an "Eastern Waters Fishery Protection Project" to strengthen patrol capabilities, upgrade the real-time reporting system for fishing vessels, and establish an inter-ministerial fishery protection mechanism to ensure the safety of fishermen.
Furthermore, the proposal calls on the Executive Yuan to convene a "National Maritime Rights Conference" involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ocean Affairs Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of National Defense to assess the impact of the Japan-Philippines delimitation talks on Taiwan's fishing rights, energy development, seabed facilities, and national maritime strategy, and to submit a comprehensive assessment report outlining the government's response.
The proposal demands that the Executive Yuan, based on the conference's conclusions, deliver a special report to the Legislative Yuan and respond to questions, demonstrating the government's concrete actions and determination to defend sovereignty, protect fishing rights, and safeguard fishermen's livelihoods.
Presiding over the meeting, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu announced that, in accordance with the consensus among party caucuses, the case would be sent directly to second reading and referred to party caucus negotiations, with the KMT and TPP caucuses responsible for convening the negotiations. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150605