Officials protest Japan's naming of islands

Taiwan's high-ranking representatives in the East Asian country visited the Japan Interchange Association (JIA) headquarters in Tokyo yesterday morning to file an official protest with Japan over its decision, MOFA spokesman James Chang said during a regular briefing.

“We urge Japan to refrain from making such a move to avoid any harmful impact on Taiwan-Japan relations,” Chang said.

“The JIA fully understood our stance and will inform their administration of our concerns,” he said.

The JIA is a quasi-official organization authorized by the Japanese government to handle relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The MOFA spokesman was responding to Japan's decision on Monday to name 39 uninhabited islands, including some that are part of the Tiaoyu Islands chain.

According to an Associated Press report released Monday, Japan's chief government spokesperson said the islands all are within what the nation's exclusive economic zone.

The official naming is expected to take place by the end of March, the spokesman said.

Soichi Yamagata, an official with the Japanese Cabinet office, added that the names would be used for new maps, the AP report said.

MOFA Reiterates Sovereignty Claim

Asked to comment, Chang yesterday reiterated the long-standing stance of the Taiwan government that the Tiaoyu Islands are the inherent territory of the nation and the islets are administered as part of Toucheng Township (頭城), Yilan County.

Chang said the government strongly opposes any infringement of the nation's sovereign territory.

The government has and will continue to handle the issue under the principle that it is willing to set aside disputes over sovereignty to work with other countries to jointly explore resources and promote reciprocity, he said.

“We wish that all parties concerned can work together to contribute to peace and stability in the region,” he said.

The Tiaoyu Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China and the Senkaku Islands in Japan, lie about 100 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan's northeastern tip.

The island group is controlled by Japan but is also claimed by both Taiwan and China.

The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and natural gas fields and therefore are targets for nearby countries wishing to claim sovereignty.

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