Taiwan lodges 3rd protest in Japanese island naming saga

The MOFA filed a strong protest with the Japan Interchange Association (JIA) Monday after the Japan-based Sankei Shimbun daily reported the same day Tokyo's interest in accelerating the naming process, said Huang Ming-lang (黃明朗), secretary-general of the MOFA's Association of East Asian Relations.

Japan was about to name 39 uninhabited islands, including some that are part of the disputed islands chain that they claim are within the nation's exclusive economic zone.

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

Huang said Japan should “restrain” itself instead of putting bilateral relations at risk with the island-naming move.

This is MOFA's third protest to Japanese authorities over the naming issue. Taiwan previously complained to Tokyo in November 2011 and earlier in January.

Although “Japan stood firm in its position” that it has sovereignty over the islands, Huang said Taiwan has sent a message of dismay to JIA officials, who promised they will report the situation to Japan's government.

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 local government's long-standing stance is 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.

The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and natural gas fields, making them are targets for nearby countries.

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