Japan and Philippines to Negotiate EEZ; MOFA: Firmly Protect Taiwan and Fishermen's Rights
Japan and the Philippines are set to begin negotiations on their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries, prompting China to conduct law enforcement operations in waters east of Taiwan. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) firmly stated that China has no right to enforce laws in the area, the Japan-Philippines talks do not affect Taiwan's sovereignty, and it will resolutely safeguard Taiwan's maritime rights and fishermen's working rights.
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- 📰 Published: June 9, 2026 at 14:18
- 🔍 Collected: June 9, 2026 at 14:27 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 9, 2026 at 14:29 (1 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Reporter Yang Yaoru, Taipei, 9th) Japan and the Philippines are set to initiate negotiations on their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while China has launched law enforcement operations in the waters east of Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated today that China has no right to claim law enforcement authority in the waters east of Taiwan and is using this opportunity to expand its jurisdictional claims. It added that the Japan-Philippines negotiations do not involve Taiwan's sovereignty, and MOFA will firmly protect Taiwan's maritime rights and the working rights of its fishermen.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, on the 6th, China's Ministry of Transport organized the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, the Donghai Navigation Safety Center, and the Donghai Rescue Bureau to conduct a "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation" in the waters east of Taiwan. China claims this is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of "maritime delimitation negotiations" east of Taiwan.
At a regular press conference in the morning, MOFA spokesperson Steve Kuo (Xiao Guangwei) sternly pointed out that China has no right to claim law enforcement authority over the waters east of Taiwan for any reason, and certainly no right to use the potential future maritime delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines as an excuse to expand its jurisdictional claims in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Kuo emphasized that Taiwan absolutely will not accept China's plot to use this opportunity to normalize patrols and law enforcement in the waters east of Taiwan. MOFA strongly condemns China's actions that undermine regional peace and stability and challenge the international order.
Kuo reiterated that MOFA solemnly declares that any consultations or negotiations between parties must not harm Taiwan's rights and interests. As a party with rights and interests in the relevant maritime areas, Taiwan will continue to express its position to relevant countries through various channels and firmly safeguard Taiwan's maritime rights.
Regarding the potential future EEZ and continental shelf delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines, Kuo explained that MOFA has already stated its position to both the Japanese and Philippine governments. First, according to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and international judicial precedents, bilateral treaties or agreements are only effective for the contracting parties and do not affect the rights of third parties. Moreover, Japan has stated on multiple occasions, including a statement from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association on the 8th, that the Japan-Philippines agreement will not affect the rights of third parties. Therefore, the effectiveness of the delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines does not extend to Taiwan, and the various rights enjoyed by Taiwan in its eastern EEZ will not be affected, now or in the future.
Second, if Japan and the Philippines conduct relevant negotiations in the future, they should fully consider the fact that Taiwan's rights and interests overlap with those in the relevant maritime areas and maintain communication and consultation with Taiwan.
Third, existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the "Taiwan-Japan Fishery Agreement" signed in 2013 and the "Taiwan-Philippines Fishery Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement" signed in 2015, continue to operate. Taiwan continues to communicate and exchange views on relevant maritime issues with Japan and the Philippines through these mechanisms.
Kuo specifically clarified that some external opinions confuse EEZ delimitation with territorial and territorial sea sovereignty, claiming that Taiwan's territory or territorial sea might be partitioned. Such statements do not conform to the practice and facts of international law of the sea.
Kuo further explained that according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the EEZ is a maritime regime where the coastal state enjoys specific sovereign rights and jurisdiction over marine resources. It is not a scope of territorial or territorial sea sovereignty. Therefore, the EEZ delimitation issue that Japan and the Philippines will discuss in the future does not involve Taiwan's sovereignty and does not affect the legitimate working rights of Taiwanese fishermen within Taiwan's EEZ.
Kuo also stated that Japan and the Philippines have not yet formally begun negotiations, nor have they set a specific timeline for talks. Claims that Taiwanese fishermen will immediately face boarding, detention, or operational restrictions as a result of these negotiations are inconsistent with the facts.
Kuo emphasized that MOFA will continue to maintain close contact with relevant countries, firmly protect Taiwan's maritime rights and fishermen's working rights, and called on all sectors to view the relevant issues rationally and avoid being misled by false information. He also urged the international community to pay joint attention to China's recent escalation of provocative actions in the waters surrounding Taiwan, which undermine regional peace and stability, and to work together to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific order. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150609
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, on the 6th, China's Ministry of Transport organized the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, the Donghai Navigation Safety Center, and the Donghai Rescue Bureau to conduct a "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation" in the waters east of Taiwan. China claims this is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of "maritime delimitation negotiations" east of Taiwan.
At a regular press conference in the morning, MOFA spokesperson Steve Kuo (Xiao Guangwei) sternly pointed out that China has no right to claim law enforcement authority over the waters east of Taiwan for any reason, and certainly no right to use the potential future maritime delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines as an excuse to expand its jurisdictional claims in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Kuo emphasized that Taiwan absolutely will not accept China's plot to use this opportunity to normalize patrols and law enforcement in the waters east of Taiwan. MOFA strongly condemns China's actions that undermine regional peace and stability and challenge the international order.
Kuo reiterated that MOFA solemnly declares that any consultations or negotiations between parties must not harm Taiwan's rights and interests. As a party with rights and interests in the relevant maritime areas, Taiwan will continue to express its position to relevant countries through various channels and firmly safeguard Taiwan's maritime rights.
Regarding the potential future EEZ and continental shelf delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines, Kuo explained that MOFA has already stated its position to both the Japanese and Philippine governments. First, according to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and international judicial precedents, bilateral treaties or agreements are only effective for the contracting parties and do not affect the rights of third parties. Moreover, Japan has stated on multiple occasions, including a statement from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association on the 8th, that the Japan-Philippines agreement will not affect the rights of third parties. Therefore, the effectiveness of the delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines does not extend to Taiwan, and the various rights enjoyed by Taiwan in its eastern EEZ will not be affected, now or in the future.
Second, if Japan and the Philippines conduct relevant negotiations in the future, they should fully consider the fact that Taiwan's rights and interests overlap with those in the relevant maritime areas and maintain communication and consultation with Taiwan.
Third, existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the "Taiwan-Japan Fishery Agreement" signed in 2013 and the "Taiwan-Philippines Fishery Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement" signed in 2015, continue to operate. Taiwan continues to communicate and exchange views on relevant maritime issues with Japan and the Philippines through these mechanisms.
Kuo specifically clarified that some external opinions confuse EEZ delimitation with territorial and territorial sea sovereignty, claiming that Taiwan's territory or territorial sea might be partitioned. Such statements do not conform to the practice and facts of international law of the sea.
Kuo further explained that according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the EEZ is a maritime regime where the coastal state enjoys specific sovereign rights and jurisdiction over marine resources. It is not a scope of territorial or territorial sea sovereignty. Therefore, the EEZ delimitation issue that Japan and the Philippines will discuss in the future does not involve Taiwan's sovereignty and does not affect the legitimate working rights of Taiwanese fishermen within Taiwan's EEZ.
Kuo also stated that Japan and the Philippines have not yet formally begun negotiations, nor have they set a specific timeline for talks. Claims that Taiwanese fishermen will immediately face boarding, detention, or operational restrictions as a result of these negotiations are inconsistent with the facts.
Kuo emphasized that MOFA will continue to maintain close contact with relevant countries, firmly protect Taiwan's maritime rights and fishermen's working rights, and called on all sectors to view the relevant issues rationally and avoid being misled by false information. He also urged the international community to pay joint attention to China's recent escalation of provocative actions in the waters surrounding Taiwan, which undermine regional peace and stability, and to work together to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific order. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150609
FAQ
Will the Japan-Philippines EEZ negotiations affect Taiwan's sovereignty?
Taiwan's MOFA explains that the EEZ is not territorial sovereignty and the effectiveness of the Japan-Philippines talks does not extend to Taiwan.
Why did China conduct law enforcement east of Taiwan?
China claims it conducted a special maritime traffic law enforcement operation east of Taiwan in response to the Japan-Philippines maritime delimitation talks.
Will Taiwanese fishermen be affected in their operations?
MOFA states that Japan and the Philippines have not yet begun formal negotiations, and the legitimate rights of Taiwanese fishermen within Taiwan's EEZ will not be affected.