On 10 June 2008, the SS Lien Ho set off from Taiwan. On board were 16
crew and deep-sea fishermen. It was set to fish the rich waters near
what the crew would have called the Diaoyutai islands – a set of islets
claimed by Japan, Taiwan and China. At some point in its operation, the
fishing vessel came into contest with a Japanese coastguard frigate
attempting to repel what it considered an intruder. The two collided,
the 270-ton fishing boat sank – but the crew was rescued.
For years now, fishing off these disputed islands has been no easy
task. But surprisingly, amid the tension, concord was recently reached.
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Alan Romberg, director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center in
the United States, described the accord as a significant step toward
maintaining peace. By giving access to long-blocked fishing grounds, the
arrangement “removes the incentive for [Taiwanese fishermen] to engage
in demonstration flotillas … which could be quite dangerous,” he told
NM.
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