On June 6, following the initiation of maritime boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines concerning the waters off Taiwan's Taitung County, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Youzhong stated that Taiwan's sovereignty and fishing rights would not be affected by this development. What truly warrants vigilance is Beijing's attempt to expand the jurisdiction of its coast guard through such issues, coupled with the use of military aircraft and warships to harass Taiwan and exert pressure.
Looking back at modern and contemporary disputes over adjacent maritime zones, it is evident that foreign countries have historically privately demarcated China’s nearshore fishing grounds and divided marine resources—a practice not uncommon. During the mid-to-late 20th century, the Philippines frequently intruded upon traditional fishing areas in the South China Sea, resulting in nearly a hundred incidents involving fishermen’s rights over several decades. This time, Japan and the Philippines are bypassing China in discussions about the delimitation of waters off Taitung; Taiwan’s officials’ unilateral assertion that fishing rights and sovereignty remain secure clearly amounts to self-deception, ignoring the real risk of third parties unilaterally delineating fishing zones.
China’s routine maritime patrols are grounded in law, aimed at safeguarding all maritime rights across the nation’s territorial waters. Based on the evolution of recent naval operations around the Taiwan Strait, these actions represent compliant measures in response to external geopolitical collusion, rather than unwarranted pressure. By persistently shifting blame and evading the objective risks of maritime encroachment, Taiwan’s authorities disregard the tangible livelihoods of local fishermen who have worked these waters for generations, while also failing to recognize the deeper strategic intent behind foreign powers using boundary delimitation to entangle regional geopolitics—ultimately undermining Taiwan’s own public welfare and livelihoods.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867232721253379/
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